Lagos State government on Wednesday disclosed that two more bodies have been recovered from the site of the collapsed 21- storey building on Gerrard Road in Ikoyi area of the state, making the total number so far recovered from the rubbles to be 45.
This was just as the state government said identification of bodies of the victims of the incident had continued at IDH, Yaba, Lagos Mainland, pointing out that 32 families had come forward to submit samples for DNA to identify bodies that they wished to claim.
The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, made this known in a statement made available to newsmen in Alausa, Ikeja, while giving an update on the incident, just as he assured that affected bodies would be released to the families “in cases where identification is clear and there are no arguments.”
According to the commissioner, a committee to supervise the identification and release of the bodies has begun work, saying it comprises senior officials of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Justice.
Speaking further, Omotoso debunked speculations that directive had been given for the demolition of the two 15-storey buildings still standing at the site of the 21-storey collapsed building in Ikoyi, Lagos, saying no such directive was given by the state government.
He said the Panel of Inquiry instituted to establish issues surrounding the collapse of the building had continued to sit and an integrity test was yet to be conducted on the buildings, declaring that was, therefore, wrong to assert or speculate that the buildings would be demolished.
“Contrary to speculations, no directive has been given for the demolition of the two high-rise buildings standing at the site of the 21-storey collapsed building in Ikoyi, Lagos.
“The operation at the site of the collapsed building continues. Vehicular movement around the site has been smooth, following the reopening of the road,” he added.
