The last is yet to be heard concerning last Friday collapse of a building belonging to the Synagogue Church of All Nation (SCOAN).
The Lagos State Building Control Agency has now marked the main building of the church, asking for relevant documents to prove its structural integrity.
The 6-storey building which collapsed used to be a 2-storey building before the additional floors were added and according to the Lagos State Government (LASG) they did not give the approval for reconstruction.
In a phone interview with Punch, the General Manager, Lagos State Building Control Agency, Mrs. Abimbola Animashaun-Odunayo confirmed that the building had been marked by the agency.
She stated that the agency had requested the church to provide some documents and a structural integrity test would be carried out on all the buildings in the church complex.
She explained that the “X’ mark on the building does not mean demolition but rather it is for structural integrity test to be carried out on the building.
When asked if the building would be demolished in case the church failed to meet the requirements within the time frame, Mrs Abimbola declined to make further comments.
“Look, it is still under investigation; I can’t say more than that. I don’t even know who I am talking with on the phone,” she said.
The President, Building Collapse Prevention Guild, Mr. Kunle Awobodu, also described the “X” mark as notice to stop work on the building and also to draw attention to illegal activities on it.
He said, “Work was ongoing on the six-storey building before it collapsed though the church said it was due to an aircraft hovering for a period of time but this aircraft could be traced and enquiry made. Presentation of papers such as the architectural drawings, structural drawings, soil test reports and many more would strengthen or weaken the evidence of the church.”
Also speaking, a former Vice-Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Architects, who is a member of the Building Collapse Prevention Guild Technical Committee on the investigation of the collapsed building at the Synagogue Church, Olufemi Shodunke, said the professionals responsible for the construction of the collapsed guest house had yet to be identified and that the answer was important to the investigation of the committee.
The building which was still under construction at the time of collapse claimed no fewer than 80 lives, with many injured. Among those injured were some foreigners visiting the church.
Prophet T.B. Joshua the founder of the church had issued a condolence message to South Africa over the loss of its nationals and the families of the victims.
“Look, it is still under investigation; I can’t say more than that. I don’t even know who I am talking with on the phone,” she said.
The President, Building Collapse Prevention Guild, Mr. Kunle Awobodu, also described the “X” mark as notice to stop work on the building and also to draw attention to illegal activities on it.
He said, “Work was ongoing on the six-storey building before it collapsed though the church said it was due to an aircraft hovering for a period of time but this aircraft could be traced and enquiry made. Presentation of papers such as the architectural drawings, structural drawings, soil test reports and many more would strengthen or weaken the evidence of the church.”
Also speaking, a former Vice-Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Architects, who is a member of the Building Collapse Prevention Guild Technical Committee on the investigation of the collapsed building at the Synagogue Church, Olufemi Shodunke, said the professionals responsible for the construction of the collapsed guest house had yet to be identified and that the answer was important to the investigation of the committee.
The building which was still under construction at the time of collapse claimed no fewer than 80 lives, with many injured. Among those injured were some foreigners visiting the church.
Prophet T.B. Joshua the founder of the church had issued a condolence message to South Africa over the loss of its nationals and the families of the victims.
No comments:
Post a Comment