WE’RE NOT TAKING OVER SYNAGOGUE – LASG
September 18, 2014 – Rescue operation at the scene of the collapsed guest house at Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) has been concluded after seven days of digging and searching for survivors and dead bodies.
At the end of the operation, 80 dead people were recovered while 131 others were rescued alive.
News about rounding up operation at SCOAN was relayed to newsmen by Public Relations Officer, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye.
“Operation has ended with 80 dead and 131 rescued alive”, he said in a statement on Thursday.
He made the statement just as Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Town Planner Olutoyin Ayinde reiterated that that the Six- floor Guest House of the Synagogue Church for All Nation that collapsed on Friday 12th of September, 2014 at Ikotun- Egbe, a Lagos suburb did not have building approval.
He expressed his sincere condolences and sympathy with those that lost their loved ones and those that were injured in the unfortunate incident adding that government and indeed the ministry is particularly saddened that innocent lives were lost.
He said there are no plans to take over the collapsed structure site until thorough and detailed investigation as to the cause(s) of the collapse has been concluded.
He stressed that Government does not arbitrarily take over properties when investigation is still on-going and that government is conducting a preliminary investigation into the cause(s) of the collapse and would leave no stone unturned and if there is any violation of relevant planning law, residents are assured that government would take appropriate action.
“To this end, a Team of Engineers from the Ministry and other State Government Agencies are taking samples from the foundation and materials from the wreckage of the building for detailed analysis and testing to ascertain the structural integrity of the building.
“On the veracity of the “Strange Plane Theory”, alleged to have dangerously flown low over the building fifty minutes before the collapse, the Ministry had submitted the video clips, as provided by the Church to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) with the coordinate of the collapsed site for investigation and professional comment”, he said.
