Barring any unforeseen development, the search and rescue operation at the scene of the 21-storey building, which collapsed in Ikoyi, Lagos last week may be concluded on Wednesday (today).
The incident, which occurred last week’s Monday claimed 44 lives including the owner of the building while 15 people survived.
An official who spoke with Daily Trust yesterday said, “All things being equal, the multi-sectoral search and rescue operation would be concluded tomorrow (today). Though we have not reached ground zero yet, it is likely we will get to that level on Wednesday.”
When contacted, the NEMA Coordinator in Lagos, Ibrahim Farinloye, said there was no recovery yesterday. He however said he could not confirm the particular day the operation would end.
Meanwhile, the six-man panel set up by the state government to probe the immediate and remote causes of the incident continued its assignment yesterday by visiting the scene again to take some samples.
A source close to the panel led by President of Nigeria Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Toyin Ayinde, said the panel was at the scene “To take samples of all the materials used like the steel reinforcement bars and other major materials used on site.”
It was learnt that the samples would be tested to ascertain whether the right specifications were used or not.
The source added that the panel had started conducting interviews with the survivors to get some firsthand information from them.