The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu,has said that death toll from the collapsed building at Oba-Oniru Street, near Sand Field area of Victoria Island, Lagos, has jumped to six.

The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, disclosed this on Monday.

The sixth body was recovered at about 2.33p.m on Monday,he told reporters.

The seven-storey building collapsed at about 3a.m., on Sunday and two bodies were recovered before noon.

Three additional bodies were recovered earlier on Monday, while the fourth was recovered at about 2.33p.m., which brought the death toll to six.

He said: “The Agency alongside other first responders has been working for over 24 hours at the site seven-storey building which collapsed yesterday.Another four bodies have been extricated from the rubble, bringing the fatalities to six.The painstaking process is ongoing.

The Coordinator, Lagos Territorial District, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye, also said six bodies have been recovered so far.

In the meantime,Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Idris Salako, has tendered his resignation letter on account of the incident

The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has accepted his resignation, a statement made available by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, announced this.

He said:“This is a prelude to the restructuring of the Ministry and its agencies.Governor Sanwo-Olu thanks the Commissioner for his services to the state and wishes him success in his future endeavours.The Governor warns all players in the sector to respect the law or face the consequences of any indiscretion, no matter who the perpetrators are”.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has apprehended 19 additional vehicles in Apongbon,Lagos Island on account of indiscriminate parking.

The General Manager, (LASTMA) Mr Bolaji Oreagba disclosed that the on-going total clampdown exercise embarked upon by the Authority was to generally ease off traffic flow to motorists particularly this approaching ‘Ember Months’ across the State.

Mr. Oreagba disclosed further that study conducted revealed that perennial traffic gridlock being experienced by motorists are caused by recalcitrant drivers who do not want to comply with the State Traffic Laws and Regulations.

He said that the on-going total Enforcement exercise which is expected to cover major identified spots is being coordinated by the Core Operations Commands (COC) from LASTMA Headquarters at Oshodi.

“I must implore law abiding citizens of Lagos State, especially motorists, to adhere strictly to the traffic law of the State in order not to run afoul of the law which has consequences. We must all have a positive attitude towards obeying the law of the State which was made to ensure orderliness and fast-paced socio-economic improvement of individuals, corporate entities and generality of the people”.

While assuring members of the public of the Authority’s commitment in ensuring free flow of traffic on all our roads, Oreagba urged drivers and general road users to be compliant with traffic laws, to make the ‘Smart City’ vision achievable in Lagos.

He However called on LASTMA officials to be more dedicated on effective traffic monitoring and management in the state.

Speaking in the same vein, Mr. Peter Gbejemede the Director of Operations that led the team confirmed that immediately after the enforcement operations around Apongbon, CMS and Iyana-Oworo traffic was observed to flow better for motorists.

He maintained that drivers/owners of these new additional 19 apprehended vehicles would be arraigned in court.

The ‘CSO Coalition for the Revival of Ajaokuta’ has expressed that the revival of the multibillion Ajaokuta Steel Complex in Kogi state would soon come to fruition.

The group’s claim was strengthened by the Federal Government’s recent efforts at paying off the country’s debt over Ajaokuta to a foreign firm spanning over 20 years.

The group said it is heartwarming, patriotic and commendable to have succeeded in negotiating the nation’s debt from $5.28b to S496m after tax and overheads.,which accounted for about 91% reduction of the mediation claim.

Mohammed Bougei Attah, National Coordinator. Prince Chris Azor,President, International Peace and Civic Responsibility Centre (IPCRC) and Barr. Ayo Adebusoye, Executive Director, Nigeria Network of NGOs, conveyed the group’s optimism in a statement sent to PremiumNews on Monday.

Commending the government’s gesture, the group said the negotiations have put to rest the long-standing contractual dispute with a foreign investor group and constitute the last process in the efforts to bring back Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited back to fruition.

It is also a relief to win back the National Ore Mining Company in Itapke, NIOMCO that was hitherto under concession to this foreign interest,the statement said.

The group commended President Muhammad Buhari for keeping to his promise of ensuring the steel company is back to full operations before the end of his administration,adding that this would not have been possible without the political will from him and the support by his ministers and the administrators of both Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited, ASCL and NIOMCO administrators.

The group added: ’,And with the settlement agreement coming into effect in August this year, we are convinced that this is a milestone to getting the steel plant back to life for the good and development of the country. We are convinced further that the ‘Industrialization Agenda’ of the Buhari administration is indeed working.Recall that on November 25 last year at the National Conference on Ajaokuta Steel Company, organized by the Coalition, the CSOs had urged the federal government to consider it a patriotic gesture by putting the Ajaokuta phenomenon to rest through this process of arbitration, which has held backward the revival process over the years.

‘’It is therefore clear, as stated by the Hon. Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami that President Muhammadu Buhari “has succeeded in rescueing the steel industry from interminable and complex disputes as well as saving the taxpayer from humongous damages.As civil society organizations, representing the voice and interest of the Nigeria public, we would continue to play our role as independent monitors, to ensure the task of completing this revival process is done with utmost sincerity, diligence and patriotic zeal that will help to accelerate Nigeria’s industrialization agenda’’