Ikoyi building that collapsed was sealed by Governor Sanwo-Olu a year ago to “prevent calamity”

By Samantha Allen

Published: November 1, 2021 | 8:19 PM GMT

The State government had shut the 21-story structure that fell today at Musikiu Junction by Gerard Road in Ikoyi, Lagos, last year to “avoid tragedy.”

Unfortunately, it appears that the building was later unsealed, and development continued until today, November 1, about 1:30 p.m., when it fell.

Sanwo-Olu was believed to have sealed the Gerard, Ikoyi high-rise in July 2020.

According to a source at the time, the State Government took the action to seal the building to ensure that what happened at Lekki Gardens Estate on March 8, 2016, when its on-going six-story building fell, would not happen again in the state.

The source said: “It is unheard of that the owners of the Ikoyi project in question would embark on such a capital intensive project without obtaining required approvals for a project as massive as that. “Gone are the days of negligence on the part of the government when people flout the law.

Sealing up the project is law taking its due course.

“The owners of this project have shown themselves to be defiant and obstinate, in that the state ministry of Land and Physical Planning had been calling on them to without paying attention to what the ministry had been calling their attention to.

“It does not benefit the state to stop economically viable projects like the project on Gerrard Road in Ikoyi, but the responsibility falls on the government that all rules and regulations guiding such buildings are strictly adhered to.

“What the government has done is to halt further construction with a view to assessing and evaluating the extent to which the builders had adhered to the building code.

The state will take it up from there. “The government will not fold its arm and watch people behave recklessly without order and accountability.

We are talking about people’s lives here. The state will no longer tolerate such attitude from anybody no matter how highly placed they may be.

About Samantha Allen

Samantha Allen is a seasoned journalist and senior correspondent at TDPel Media, specializing in the intersection of maternal health, clinical wellness, and public policy. With a background in investigative reporting and a passion for data-driven storytelling, Samantha has become a trusted voice for expectant mothers and healthcare advocates worldwide. Her work focuses on translating complex medical research into actionable insights, covering everything from prenatal fitness and neonatal care to the socioeconomic impacts of healthcare legislation. At TDPel Media, Samantha leads the agency's health analytics desk, ensuring that every report is grounded in accuracy, empathy, and scientific integrity. When she isn't in the newsroom, she is an advocate for community-led wellness initiatives and an avid explorer of California’s coastal trails.