Lagos explosion: Government begins demolition of affected buildings

Lagos State Government yesterday mobilised equipment to pull down affected buildings at the explosion site in Oroyinyin, Lagos Island.

No fewer than 12 buildings were destroyed by the Boxing Day firecracker explosions at Jankara Market.
Three of the structures were yesterday brought down by bulldozers, belonging to the Public Works Corporation (PWC), an agency of the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure.

The demolition, however, created fears in the minds of owners of properties within the neighbourhood.
Five buildings were completely burnt. Three were partially affected and four others were also damaged.


A government official from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Culture, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the demolition of the affected buildings will continue.

The official also spoke of plans by the government to carry out integrity test on other buildings within the vicinity to ascertain their status.

On the fate of the property owners, whose buildings may be demolished, the source said the government was yet to take a decision on that.

The source said: “It is too early in the day to say whether their properties will be forfeited or if they will be compensated by the government.

“At the moment, our concern is to ensure that those buildings that are beyond repair are demolished, while integrity test will be carried on a host of others to ascertain their state.

“The result of the test will show if such buildings will also be demolished or reinforced. So, it is at that point that the government will most likely take a decision.

“It is really too early to talk about that now because nobody can give an answer to it.”

As of 3pm yesterday, three of the buildings on Nos 45, 43 and 41 have been demolished. The demolition will continue today.

The Lagos Police Command spoke of its readiness to clamp down on importers and sellers of fire crackers across the state.

The police statement came in the wake of accusations by some of the victims that the police was aware such explosives were stored in the neighbourhood.

They (police) had been accused the police of complicity as mobile policemen had always allegedly escorted the trailers that bring in the firecrackers, which according to the victims, was usually done at nights.

Spokesperson for the Command Ngozi Braide, who was at the scene of the explosion, reminded Lagosians that the ban on the use of fireworks was still in force, even as she maintained that the police will vigorously enforce the law.

She said: “Using fireworks and bangers in Lagos State is still banned. Investigation will commence on the importation of such device and necessary actions taken.

“Are such explosives supposed to be warehoused in a residential area like this? Lagosians should please alert the police whenever they see such things henceforth.

“This is because such devices can be used by criminals. It has been abused and we need the support of residents to arrest those going against the laws of the state.”



Source: The Nation