The Lagos State Government has announced plans to demolish all buildings marked as structurally distressed around the site of the collapsed three-storey building in the Alakija area of the state, as Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu vowed to prosecute owners found culpable for the tragedy.

The building collapsed on Thursday, killing nine people and leaving several others trapped beneath the rubble.

Speaking during an inspection of the site on Friday, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, who represented Governor Sanwo-Olu, said the government would take decisive action against owners of unsafe buildings who disregard official safety directives.

Omotoso said emergency responders worked through the night to rescue victims from the debris, with 27 people pulled out alive while nine others were confirmed dead.

“The search and rescue operation lasted all night. Personnel of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), the Police, the Command and Control Centre, Neighbourhood Watch and other agencies are still at the site,” he said.

The commissioner conveyed Governor Sanwo-Olu’s condolences to the bereaved families, describing the incident as avoidable.

“This should not have happened if people had obeyed the law instead of prioritising livelihoods over lives,” Omotoso said.

According to him, the collapsed building had previously been identified as structurally distressed, and occupants were directed to vacate the premises, but the warning was ignored.

He said all other buildings already marked as unsafe within the vicinity would be demolished to prevent similar tragedies and protect lives.

Omotoso also announced that the owners of the collapsed building, as well as owners of other distressed structures who fail to comply with government directives, would face prosecution under the laws of Lagos State.

“Anyone found to have violated building regulations or frustrated enforcement efforts will surely face legal action,” he said.

He also condemned the construction of buildings beneath high-tension electricity lines, describing the practice as dangerous and unacceptable.

“You cannot build under high-tension power lines. It is dangerous and unacceptable in any civilised society. It shows disregard for the law, and the government will not tolerate that,” he said.

Omotoso said investigations into the cause of the collapse were ongoing, while survivors were receiving treatment at various hospitals across the state.

He urged residents occupying buildings around the collapse site to relocate immediately as a precautionary measure and reiterated the government’s commitment to safeguarding lives through strict enforcement of building safety regulations.

The commissioner also commended emergency responders for their swift response and professionalism during the rescue operation.

Also present during the inspection were the Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr. Gbenga Oyerinde, who praised the first responders for their efforts, and the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, who commended emergency workers and security personnel for working tirelessly until the rescue operation brought the collapsed structure to ground zero.