This is just as the President and founder of LoveWorld Incorporated, also known as Christ Embassy, Rev Chris Oyakhilome, said it would rebuild a better and bigger structure to replace the affected building.

LASEMA’s Permanent Secretary, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, gave the hint while fielding questions from journalists at the scene of the fire incident on Sunday.

Our correspondent who visited the scene of the incident gathered that the fire started at about 7:30 am but the quick intervention of emergency responders prevented it from escalating to adjoining buildings.

some parts of the building were pulled down by an excavator so that sections that were engulfed in fire could be accessed.

Speaking on the incident, Oke-Osanyintolu disclosed that the intensity of the fire had caused cracks in the wall of the building, which therefore required that an integrity test be conducted on the building.

In his words, “We have seen a lot of structural defects; there are cracks on the walls, and we are carrying out evacuation so that the place will be safe.

We will ensure to subject the building to an integrity test where we can determine the next line of action. We cannot demolish at this moment until an integrity test is carried out. If it is not safe, then we will take the next action.

“We are working with the church, and they have been cooperating with us, which is why we were able to swiftly combat the fire. We have the structural design of the building with us, and we will investigate thoroughly to ascertain the cause of the fire.”

The Lagos emergency management boss noted that though there was basic firefighting equipment in the church at the time of the fire, the presence of highly flammable materials contributed to the intensity of the fire.

He added, “As a professional, I realised that maybe there were lots of flammables in there in terms of the curtains and other materials. However, from what I have seen, they have basic firefighting equipment, trained men to curtail fire, and fire hydrants.

“One way or the other, we work as a team with them, and that’s why despite the fire being massive, it did not spread, and there was no casualty.”

In his reaction, Oyakhilome, during a live Sunday service at the church’s campground in Asese, Ogun State, disclosed that the fire incident at the church’s headquarters in Lagos is an opportunity to rebuild the razed building in a bigger and better way.

He said, “Nothing happens in the life of a child of God by accident. During the 2001 Ikeja cantonment bombing incident, the building vibrated so much, that we thought it was going to collapse. I thought to myself that if it collapsed, I was going to build a bigger, better one. At the end of the day, it didn’t collapse, and we called the engineers to see if there was any need to bring it down and rebuild, but it was still okay.

Now that this has happened, we will build a bigger, better, and more glorious one, and the devil will lick his wounds.”

Also speaking on the incident, the Head of the Search and Rescue Unit of the Lagos Territorial Office of the National Emergency Management Agency, Ibitayo Adenike, noted that the absence of worshippers at the time the fire started prevented casualties from occurring in the incident.

She said, “At the time of the fire, there were no worshippers in the building. There were only a few people who were having a meeting, which was what helped to prevent casualties that might have occurred with a crowd.”

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service said an investigation had commenced into the cause of the fire.

The Director of LSFRS, Margaret Adeseye, in a statement on Sunday, added, “The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, and investigations are underway to ascertain its origin.

“No casualties have been reported at this time. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.”

Oke-Osanyintolu, in a statement on Sunday, described the building as illegal, adding that several stop-work orders had been issued on the building located on No 54, Jebba Street, Ebute Metta.

He noted that in the interest of public safety, the agency would pull down the structure to ground zero with immediate effect.

Oke-Osanyintolu said, “LASEMA and LABSCA have been forced to intervene in an illegal building site at No 54 Jebba Street, Ebute Metta. The construction has failed numerous integrity and structural tests and has been subjected to several ‘stop work’ orders which have been flouted severally.

In the interests of public safety and to forestall any disaster, the structure will be pulled down to ground zero by the agency with immediate effect.

Members of the public are to be assured of the commitment of the administration of Mr Babajide Sanwoolu to public safety, law and order. Further updates will follow.”

Our correspondent gathered that people residing in the building vacated the premises immediately after the building gave a sign it wanted to collapse.

The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said no casualty was recorded during the incident, adding that the site of the collapsed structure had been handed over to the Lagos State Building Control Agency.

He said, “The agency responded to the collapsed two-story building on Chris Igadi Street, off Ago Palace Way, opposite Kilimanjaro/ AP filling station, around 3am this morning. On arrival, information gathered from the residents revealed that the building gave signs several hours before it collapsed. Fortunately, nobody was trapped as all the occupants evacuated the area when the signs began two hours before the collapse. A headcount of occupants was carried out to ensure no occupants is missing and the remains of the building were cordoned off. The operation was concluded around 5:23 am. The site will be handed over to LABSCA and Ministry of Physical Planning for further investigation.”

The Director-General of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Oluwafemi Oke-Osayintolu, said on Thursday,  Jan. 27, that evidence proved that all victims of the 21-storey building collapse on Gerard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, died before rescue operations began.

Oke-Osayintolu made the disclosure during a coroner’s inquest into the November 1, 2021 building collapse which killed 46 people.

Led in evidence-in-chief by counsel for the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Mr A. S. Odugbemi, the LASEMA boss said that the rescue operations were carried out by professionals and non-professionals, assisted by their equipment.

He said the agency, in its years of existence, was confronted with what he described as “a classical national emergency”.

Oke-Osayintolu said the rescue team he directed in his capacity as the incident commander moved into the incident area, following a primary assessment, partitioning the building into quadrums 1 to 4 and employing heavy and life duty equipment.

He said the use of drones and Delsa equipment for detection of life enabled the primary and secondary emergency responders to determine that there was no life in the debris before work commenced.

Oke-Osayintolu said: “Where we put the excavator is the first quorum. We used the Delsa to detect if there is somebody that is alive and I said this type of collapse building, it’s unique itself. When they pile on one another there won’t be air going in, it will compress the victim and the way our response was operated we divided the place into quadrums. We used a Delsa and a drone, I can say that the probability is close to zero.”

Speaking on oath before the coroner, Mr Ola Adeosun, representing Prowess Engineering Ltd, supported the claims of the LASEMA Director-General on the casualty.

Adeosun said: “My Lord, with my medical background, I have attended to a lot of emergencies in the country, I will say no.”

The coroner asked:  “Are you telling this court that before moving your equipment, you must have confirmed that there is no person alive?”

The witness replied: “100 per cent yes, My Lord. There was nobody that died in the course of our intervention to the best of my knowledge.”

LASEMA, in a statement on Facebook, titled, ‘LASEMA battles Ladipo Mushin Gas explosion,’ said it has deployed its Response Team, Eagle Squad at Cappa to contain the situation.

The Agency also said the fire from the explosion has been put under control by the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and also the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps.

The statement read, “The Agency’s Response Team, Eagle Squad at Cappa have been deployed to a fire outbreak at Ojekunke Street, Ladipo Mushin today, Tuesday, 16th 2021. On getting to the scene, the Response Team discovered an open land with shanties and shops where gas cylinders are stacked. Further investigation revealed that the gas ignited and exploded. However, the Agency’s Team and its Fire Unit and Lagos State Fire & Rescue Service and Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps. LNSC, have been able to put the fire under control and the firemen are blanketing the affected area. Unfortunately, three male adults have lost their lives to the incident. The DG/CEO LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu appeals to all residents in the area to remain calm and be cautious of their surroundings as the Responders are working better together to subdue the fire. Operations are still ongoing. More updates to follow.”

Many persons, among who are workers at the site were said to be trapped under the debris.

As at time of writing this report, emergency responders were yet to arrive the scene.

The  South West Coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency, he said that responders were on their way to the scene.

He said, “we are on our way there. The Police just contacted us.”

On his part, General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osayintolu, said, it was a 25-storey building.

According to him: “Collapsed Building at Gerard Road, Ikoyi…

The agency has activated its emergency response plan to the above incident.

All first responders are en route to secure the scene while the heavy-duty equipment and life detection equipment have been dispatched.”

Officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency said one more body was recovered by emergency responders.

LASEMA spokesperson, Nosa Okunbor, also stated that 20 people were rescued while giving an update Monday morning.

He gave the breakdown as “10 seriously injured and taken to Lagos Island General Hospital, 10 mildly injured and treated at the scene. Eight fatalities.”

Though the cause of the collapse is yet to be given, it was learnt that the building was under construction when it collapsed around 5.40 pm.

Men of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency LASEMA have arrived at the scene and are working to put out the fire.

The Director-General, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu  confirmed the incident on Monday.

According to him, the bus with six passengers suddenly veered onto the tracks and collided with the train.

“The agency received distress calls at 8.12 am on the above. Upon arrival at the scene, it was discovered that a passenger motor GGE 972 GE with six passengers had veered onto the train tracks while crossing the rail at PWD inward Oshodi and subsequently collided with a scheduled commuter train.

“The bus was then dragged along for a stretch of the journey before the train managed to come to a complete halt,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.

The DG of LASEMA confirmed that one passenger has lost his life and been placed in the hospital morgue while the other is still undergoing treatment.

The Agency was able to successfully extricate the passengers while the wreckage of the bus has been removed to allow the free flow of commuter traffic.

Members of the public, especially drivers of commuter buses are reminded to obey traffic regulations to prevent injuries and transport delays.

LASEMA also revealed that a third vehicle, a highlander Jeep was also involved in the collision and its passengers (two adult males) sustained serious injuries before being transported to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.

The cause of the fire outbreak is yet to be ascertained but preliminary investigations showed the fire started from a shopping mall close to the market before spreading into the market. Some adjourning houses were also affected by the fire outbreak.

Men of the Lagos Fire Service Lagos State Emergency Management Agency LASEMA are on the ground working to put out the fire.

The spokesperson of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Nosa Okunbor, who spoke to newsmen, said the fire started at about 1 am today. He added that no casualty has been recorded yet.

Okunbor said “There is a fire outbreak there. It started around 1 am but we are there already. From all indications, the Ajao Main Market has a small shopping mall and from what we gathered, the fire started from the shopping mall and extended to the main market and affected some adjoining buildings. But the LASEMA Response Team and other stakeholders, including the Lagos State Fire Service and the police are already on ground to quell the fire. No casualty has been recorded for now.”