By Adebola Isimijola, Lagos

The Lagos State Government has expressed sympathy with families of victims of the Alakija building collapse, saying nine persons died while 27 others were rescued, as it warned residents against ignoring evacuation orders on distressed buildings.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, disclosed this on Friday while briefing journalists at the scene of the incident on behalf of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Omotoso said the government would not hesitate to demolish all buildings identified as structurally defective to prevent similar tragedies.

“Our first duty is to commiserate with the families who lost their loved ones in this unfortunate incident. On behalf of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, we sympathise with them and pray that such a tragedy never occurs again,” he said.

He said emergency responders worked through the night to rescue victims trapped beneath the rubble, adding that although 27 people were pulled out alive, nine others lost their lives.

“By the grace of God, we have been able to rescue 27 people. Unfortunately, we lost nine persons and this is very sad. We share the pain of the affected families,” he said.

According to the commissioner, the collapsed three-storey building had earlier been marked as distressed and occupants were directed to vacate the premises.

“As you can see, these buildings had been marked as distressed and people were asked to leave. Unfortunately, some residents returned after pretending to have moved out, leading to this tragic outcome,” Omotoso said.

He stressed that every building identified as unsafe within the area would be demolished, saying the government would not wait for another disaster before taking action.

“The protection of lives remains our priority,” he said.

Omotoso also condemned the construction and occupation of buildings beneath high-tension electricity lines, describing the practice as dangerous and a violation of safety regulations.

“It is not done in any civilised society. Such developments show disregard for safety regulations and contempt for the law. Government will continue to clamp down on such violations,” he said.

The commissioner disclosed that the owners of the collapsed building were under investigation and assured that anyone found culpable would be prosecuted.

He added that most of the rescued victims sustained minor injuries, while those requiring further medical attention had been taken to hospitals.

Omotoso commended the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the police, the military and other emergency responders for their prompt intervention.

He urged residents to prioritise safety over economic activities, saying, “Once life is lost, everything is lost. No business is worth risking human lives for.”

The state government reiterated its commitment to enforcing building safety regulations across Lagos to prevent avoidable building collapse incidents.