The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to demolishing buildings that fail to pass integrity tests, following a devastating fire incident at Dosunmu Market on Lagos Island. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu emphasized the need for strict enforcement of building regulations during his visit to the scene of the fire, which destroyed no fewer than 14 buildings and resulted in the loss of goods worth millions of naira.
According to Ibrahim Farinloye, the Lagos Territorial Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Authority, the fire originated from the penthouse of one of the buildings where a man was carelessly refueling a generator. The presence of multiple generators in the building exacerbated the situation, leading to the rapid spread of the fire to neighboring structures.
Governor Sanwo-Olu expressed dismay over the preventable nature of the disaster, lamenting the conversion of residential apartments into warehouses. He warned that more buildings would be demolished if found to be unsafe during extensive tests conducted by the government.
Acknowledging the need for a comprehensive report on the incident, Governor Sanwo-Olu emphasized the importance of preventing such tragedies in the future. He attributed the fire to gross carelessness and announced the indefinite closure of Dosunmu Market.
Sanwo-Olu assured affected individuals of government support to help them recover from the fire’s impact. However, he stressed the importance of prioritizing safety and adherence to building regulations to prevent avoidable accidents in the future.