One injured as three-storey building collapses in Lagos

An unidentified woman sustained injuries after a
three-storey residential building at 3, Anikantamo
Street, Lagos Island, collapsed on Wednesday.
Our correspondent learnt that the building, which is
said to be about 10 years old, houses over 30 people.
One of the occupants of the building, Gabriel Areo,
said they were warned by officials of the state
government in 2011 of the imminent collapse but
the landlord promised to renovate it.
He said, "In 2011, some government officials came to
the house and gave a warning that the building
might collapse. The landlord promised that he would
renovate the building and even collected two years
rent from us. He however did not keep his promise.
"In the morning, I just went out briefly and by the
time I came back, I just saw that the building had
collapsed. I thank God that no one died but I've lost
most of my belongings."
Officials of the National Emergency Management
Agency and the Lagos State Emergency Agency as
well as policemen immediately rushed to the scene.
The Public Relations Officer, NEMA, Mr. Ibrahim
Farinloye, said rescue operations had ended and that
the injured woman was responding to treatment.
"The occupants of the house are being assisted to
retrieve their belongings while the next building to
the collapsed one will be demolished to guard
against further threat," he said.
Another resident, Godwin Onasanya, a printer, said
he had over N400, 000 deposited in his room meant
for customers' jobs.
"I had N400, 345 in my room and now that the
building has collapsed, I don't even know what to do
next. I will not go anywhere, I'll wait until all the
rubble have been excavated because I cannot allow
anybody make away with all my money," he said.