The Lagos State Government has ordered the demolition of the Mopol 20 Barracks, Onigbongbo in the Ikeja area of the state over concerns about an imminent building collapse.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency said an emergency evacuation and demolition of the old Block 3 part of the barracks will be carried out soon.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, said its response team had assessed some parts of the structure and found them in a precarious condition.
With so much emphasis on the need for the exercise, especially to prevent any loss of life or property, the LASEMA boss stated further that the building and adjacent structures would also be evacuated immediately
The statement partly read, “The agency dispatched a response team to the location and the findings indicate that the building and those adjacent must be evacuated with immediate effect. We are conducting a response plan that comprises an assessment, safe and orderly evacuation, and controlled demolition.
“Under the watchful eye of the Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu administration, we will be carrying out this preemptive demolition action due to the precarious conditions of the building and possible secondary incidents that could occur if left unmanaged.”
The need for safety was also stressed as Oke-Osanyintolu, however, urged members of the public within the vicinity to remain calm and refrain from spreading misinformation on social media.
He also stated that the public that the situation was being closely monitored and managed.
