The Lagos State Government has said it will investigate the collapse of a three-storey building in the Alakija area of the state and prosecute anyone found culpable, while warning residents against ignoring evacuation notices issued on distressed structures.The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, gave the warning on Friday while briefing journalists at the scene of the incident on behalf of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.Omotoso commiserated with the families of the victims, describing the incident as unfortunate.“Our first duty is to commiserate with the families who lost their loved ones in this unfortunate incident. On behalf of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, we sympathise with them and pray that such a tragedy never occurs again,” he said.He disclosed that 27 persons were rescued alive from the rubble, while nine others lost their lives despite overnight rescue efforts.“By the grace of God, we have been able to rescue 27 people. Unfortunately, we lost nine persons and this is very sad. We share the pain of the affected families,” he said.According to the commissioner, the collapsed building had earlier been identified as distressed and marked for evacuation, but some occupants allegedly returned after initially leaving.“As you can see, these buildings had been marked as distressed and people were asked to leave. Unfortunately, some residents returned after pretending to have moved out, leading to this tragic outcome,” Omotoso said.He added that other distressed buildings in the area would be demolished to prevent similar incidents.“All the buildings that have been identified as defective will go down. We cannot wait until another tragedy occurs before taking action. The protection of lives remains our priority,” he said.Omotoso also condemned the construction and occupation of buildings beneath high-tension power lines, describing the practice as unsafe and unacceptable.Related NewsRead food labels before buying packaged foods, NAFDAC tells NigeriansNSCDC seals seven illegal mineral processing centres in Niger, arrests fourSoldiers rescue eight kidnap victims in Plateau forest“It is not done in any civilised society. Such developments show disregard for safety regulations and contempt for the law. Government will continue to clamp down on such violations,” he said.He assured residents that a full investigation into the collapse had commenced, stressing that anyone found responsible would face prosecution.“The owners of the building are under investigation. Anybody found complicit in this tragedy will face the law. They will be prosecuted because no one is above the law,” he said.The commissioner said most of the rescued victims sustained no life-threatening injuries, while those requiring further medical attention had been taken to the hospital.He also praised the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the police, the military, neighbourhood safety personnel and other emergency responders for their swift response.“I must commend all our emergency responders who worked tirelessly throughout the night to save lives and bring the situation under control,” he said.Omotoso urged residents to prioritise safety over economic considerations.“The most important lesson from this incident is that nobody should prioritise livelihood over life. Once life is lost, everything is lost. No business is worth risking human lives for,” he added.PUNCH Online had earlier reported that the building, which housed shops and business premises, collapsed in the Alakija area, prompting the activation of the state’s emergency response system.Initial reports from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency confirmed that 26 persons were rescued alive and eight others, including a baby girl, died in the incident. However, the latest update from the state government put the casualty figures at 27 rescued and nine fatalities. The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, gave the warning on Friday while briefing journalists at the scene of the incident on behalf of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.Omotoso commiserated with the families of the victims, describing the incident as unfortunate.“Our first duty is to commiserate with the families who lost their loved ones in this unfortunate incident. On behalf of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, we sympathise with them and pray that such a tragedy never occurs again,” he said.He disclosed that 27 persons were rescued alive from the rubble, while nine others lost their lives despite overnight rescue efforts.“By the grace of God, we have been able to rescue 27 people. Unfortunately, we lost nine persons and this is very sad. We share the pain of the affected families,” he said.According to the commissioner, the collapsed building had earlier been identified as distressed and marked for evacuation, but some occupants allegedly returned after initially leaving.“As you can see, these buildings had been marked as distressed and people were asked to leave. Unfortunately, some residents returned after pretending to have moved out, leading to this tragic outcome,” Omotoso said.He added that other distressed buildings in the area would be demolished to prevent similar incidents.“All the buildings that have been identified as defective will go down. We cannot wait until another tragedy occurs before taking action. The protection of lives remains our priority,” he said.Omotoso also condemned the construction and occupation of buildings beneath high-tension power lines, describing the practice as unsafe and unacceptable.Related NewsRead food labels before buying packaged foods, NAFDAC tells NigeriansNSCDC seals seven illegal mineral processing centres in Niger, arrests fourSoldiers rescue eight kidnap victims in Plateau forest“It is not done in any civilised society. Such developments show disregard for safety regulations and contempt for the law. Government will continue to clamp down on such violations,” he said.He assured residents that a full investigation into the collapse had commenced, stressing that anyone found responsible would face prosecution.“The owners of the building are under investigation. Anybody found complicit in this tragedy will face the law. They will be prosecuted because no one is above the law,” he said.The commissioner said most of the rescued victims sustained no life-threatening injuries, while those requiring further medical attention had been taken to the hospital.He also praised the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the police, the military, neighbourhood safety personnel and other emergency responders for their swift response.“I must commend all our emergency responders who worked tirelessly throughout the night to save lives and bring the situation under control,” he said.Omotoso urged residents to prioritise safety over economic considerations.“The most important lesson from this incident is that nobody should prioritise livelihood over life. Once life is lost, everything is lost. No business is worth risking human lives for,” he added.PUNCH Online had earlier reported that the building, which housed shops and business premises, collapsed in the Alakija area, prompting the activation of the state’s emergency response system.Initial reports from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency confirmed that 26 persons were rescued alive and eight others, including a baby girl, died in the incident. However, the latest update from the state government put the casualty figures at 27 rescued and nine fatalities. Omotoso commiserated with the families of the victims, describing the incident as unfortunate.“Our first duty is to commiserate with the families who lost their loved ones in this unfortunate incident. On behalf of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, we sympathise with them and pray that such a tragedy never occurs again,” he said.He disclosed that 27 persons were rescued alive from the rubble, while nine others lost their lives despite overnight rescue efforts.“By the grace of God, we have been able to rescue 27 people. Unfortunately, we lost nine persons and this is very sad. We share the pain of the affected families,” he said.According to the commissioner, the collapsed building had earlier been identified as distressed and marked for evacuation, but some occupants allegedly returned after initially leaving.“As you can see, these buildings had been marked as distressed and people were asked to leave. Unfortunately, some residents returned after pretending to have moved out, leading to this tragic outcome,” Omotoso said.He added that other distressed buildings in the area would be demolished to prevent similar incidents.“All the buildings that have been identified as defective will go down. We cannot wait until another tragedy occurs before taking action. The protection of lives remains our priority,” he said.Omotoso also condemned the construction and occupation of buildings beneath high-tension power lines, describing the practice as unsafe and unacceptable.Related NewsRead food labels before buying packaged foods, NAFDAC tells NigeriansNSCDC seals seven illegal mineral processing centres in Niger, arrests fourSoldiers rescue eight kidnap victims in Plateau forest“It is not done in any civilised society. Such developments show disregard for safety regulations and contempt for the law. Government will continue to clamp down on such violations,” he said.He assured residents that a full investigation into the collapse had commenced, stressing that anyone found responsible would face prosecution.“The owners of the building are under investigation. Anybody found complicit in this tragedy will face the law. They will be prosecuted because no one is above the law,” he said.The commissioner said most of the rescued victims sustained no life-threatening injuries, while those requiring further medical attention had been taken to the hospital.He also praised the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the police, the military, neighbourhood safety personnel and other emergency responders for their swift response.“I must commend all our emergency responders who worked tirelessly throughout the night to save lives and bring the situation under control,” he said.Omotoso urged residents to prioritise safety over economic considerations.“The most important lesson from this incident is that nobody should prioritise livelihood over life. Once life is lost, everything is lost. No business is worth risking human lives for,” he added.PUNCH Online had earlier reported that the building, which housed shops and business premises, collapsed in the Alakija area, prompting the activation of the state’s emergency response system.Initial reports from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency confirmed that 26 persons were rescued alive and eight others, including a baby girl, died in the incident. However, the latest update from the state government put the casualty figures at 27 rescued and nine fatalities. “Our first duty is to commiserate with the families who lost their loved ones in this unfortunate incident. On behalf of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, we sympathise with them and pray that such a tragedy never occurs again,” he said.He disclosed that 27 persons were rescued alive from the rubble, while nine others lost their lives despite overnight rescue efforts.“By the grace of God, we have been able to rescue 27 people. Unfortunately, we lost nine persons and this is very sad. We share the pain of the affected families,” he said.According to the commissioner, the collapsed building had earlier been identified as distressed and marked for evacuation, but some occupants allegedly returned after initially leaving.“As you can see, these buildings had been marked as distressed and people were asked to leave. Unfortunately, some residents returned after pretending to have moved out, leading to this tragic outcome,” Omotoso said.He added that other distressed buildings in the area would be demolished to prevent similar incidents.“All the buildings that have been identified as defective will go down. We cannot wait until another tragedy occurs before taking action. The protection of lives remains our priority,” he said.Omotoso also condemned the construction and occupation of buildings beneath high-tension power lines, describing the practice as unsafe and unacceptable.Related NewsRead food labels before buying packaged foods, NAFDAC tells NigeriansNSCDC seals seven illegal mineral processing centres in Niger, arrests fourSoldiers rescue eight kidnap victims in Plateau forest“It is not done in any civilised society. Such developments show disregard for safety regulations and contempt for the law. Government will continue to clamp down on such violations,” he said.He assured residents that a full investigation into the collapse had commenced, stressing that anyone found responsible would face prosecution.“The owners of the building are under investigation. Anybody found complicit in this tragedy will face the law. They will be prosecuted because no one is above the law,” he said.The commissioner said most of the rescued victims sustained no life-threatening injuries, while those requiring further medical attention had been taken to the hospital.He also praised the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the police, the military, neighbourhood safety personnel and other emergency responders for their swift response.“I must commend all our emergency responders who worked tirelessly throughout the night to save lives and bring the situation under control,” he said.Omotoso urged residents to prioritise safety over economic considerations.“The most important lesson from this incident is that nobody should prioritise livelihood over life. Once life is lost, everything is lost. No business is worth risking human lives for,” he added.PUNCH Online had earlier reported that the building, which housed shops and business premises, collapsed in the Alakija area, prompting the activation of the state’s emergency response system.Initial reports from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency confirmed that 26 persons were rescued alive and eight others, including a baby girl, died in the incident. However, the latest update from the state government put the casualty figures at 27 rescued and nine fatalities. He disclosed that 27 persons were rescued alive from the rubble, while nine others lost their lives despite overnight rescue efforts.“By the grace of God, we have been able to rescue 27 people. Unfortunately, we lost nine persons and this is very sad. We share the pain of the affected families,” he said.According to the commissioner, the collapsed building had earlier been identified as distressed and marked for evacuation, but some occupants allegedly returned after initially leaving.“As you can see, these buildings had been marked as distressed and people were asked to leave. Unfortunately, some residents returned after pretending to have moved out, leading to this tragic outcome,” Omotoso said.He added that other distressed buildings in the area would be demolished to prevent similar incidents.“All the buildings that have been identified as defective will go down. We cannot wait until another tragedy occurs before taking action. The protection of lives remains our priority,” he said.Omotoso also condemned the construction and occupation of buildings beneath high-tension power lines, describing the practice as unsafe and unacceptable.Related NewsRead food labels before buying packaged foods, NAFDAC tells NigeriansNSCDC seals seven illegal mineral processing centres in Niger, arrests fourSoldiers rescue eight kidnap victims in Plateau forest“It is not done in any civilised society. Such developments show disregard for safety regulations and contempt for the law. Government will continue to clamp down on such violations,” he said.He assured residents that a full investigation into the collapse had commenced, stressing that anyone found responsible would face prosecution.“The owners of the building are under investigation. Anybody found complicit in this tragedy will face the law. They will be prosecuted because no one is above the law,” he said.The commissioner said most of the rescued victims sustained no life-threatening injuries, while those requiring further medical attention had been taken to the hospital.He also praised the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the police, the military, neighbourhood safety personnel and other emergency responders for their swift response.“I must commend all our emergency responders who worked tirelessly throughout the night to save lives and bring the situation under control,” he said.Omotoso urged residents to prioritise safety over economic considerations.“The most important lesson from this incident is that nobody should prioritise livelihood over life. Once life is lost, everything is lost. No business is worth risking human lives for,” he added.PUNCH Online had earlier reported that the building, which housed shops and business premises, collapsed in the Alakija area, prompting the activation of the state’s emergency response system.Initial reports from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency confirmed that 26 persons were rescued alive and eight others, including a baby girl, died in the incident. However, the latest update from the state government put the casualty figures at 27 rescued and nine fatalities. “By the grace of God, we have been able to rescue 27 people. Unfortunately, we lost nine persons and this is very sad. We share the pain of the affected families,” he said.According to the commissioner, the collapsed building had earlier been identified as distressed and marked for evacuation, but some occupants allegedly returned after initially leaving.“As you can see, these buildings had been marked as distressed and people were asked to leave. Unfortunately, some residents returned after pretending to have moved out, leading to this tragic outcome,” Omotoso said.He added that other distressed buildings in the area would be demolished to prevent similar incidents.“All the buildings that have been identified as defective will go down. We cannot wait until another tragedy occurs before taking action. The protection of lives remains our priority,” he said.Omotoso also condemned the construction and occupation of buildings beneath high-tension power lines, describing the practice as unsafe and unacceptable.Related NewsRead food labels before buying packaged foods, NAFDAC tells NigeriansNSCDC seals seven illegal mineral processing centres in Niger, arrests fourSoldiers rescue eight kidnap victims in Plateau forest“It is not done in any civilised society. Such developments show disregard for safety regulations and contempt for the law. Government will continue to clamp down on such violations,” he said.He assured residents that a full investigation into the collapse had commenced, stressing that anyone found responsible would face prosecution.“The owners of the building are under investigation. Anybody found complicit in this tragedy will face the law. They will be prosecuted because no one is above the law,” he said.The commissioner said most of the rescued victims sustained no life-threatening injuries, while those requiring further medical attention had been taken to the hospital.He also praised the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the police, the military, neighbourhood safety personnel and other emergency responders for their swift response.“I must commend all our emergency responders who worked tirelessly throughout the night to save lives and bring the situation under control,” he said.Omotoso urged residents to prioritise safety over economic considerations.“The most important lesson from this incident is that nobody should prioritise livelihood over life. Once life is lost, everything is lost. No business is worth risking human lives for,” he added.PUNCH Online had earlier reported that the building, which housed shops and business premises, collapsed in the Alakija area, prompting the activation of the state’s emergency response system.Initial reports from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency confirmed that 26 persons were rescued alive and eight others, including a baby girl, died in the incident. However, the latest update from the state government put the casualty figures at 27 rescued and nine fatalities. According to the commissioner, the collapsed building had earlier been identified as distressed and marked for evacuation, but some occupants allegedly returned after initially leaving.“As you can see, these buildings had been marked as distressed and people were asked to leave. Unfortunately, some residents returned after pretending to have moved out, leading to this tragic outcome,” Omotoso said.He added that other distressed buildings in the area would be demolished to prevent similar incidents.“All the buildings that have been identified as defective will go down. We cannot wait until another tragedy occurs before taking action. The protection of lives remains our priority,” he said.Omotoso also condemned the construction and occupation of buildings beneath high-tension power lines, describing the practice as unsafe and unacceptable.Related NewsRead food labels before buying packaged foods, NAFDAC tells NigeriansNSCDC seals seven illegal mineral processing centres in Niger, arrests fourSoldiers rescue eight kidnap victims in Plateau forest“It is not done in any civilised society. Such developments show disregard for safety regulations and contempt for the law. Government will continue to clamp down on such violations,” he said.He assured residents that a full investigation into the collapse had commenced, stressing that anyone found responsible would face prosecution.“The owners of the building are under investigation. Anybody found complicit in this tragedy will face the law. They will be prosecuted because no one is above the law,” he said.The commissioner said most of the rescued victims sustained no life-threatening injuries, while those requiring further medical attention had been taken to the hospital.He also praised the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the police, the military, neighbourhood safety personnel and other emergency responders for their swift response.“I must commend all our emergency responders who worked tirelessly throughout the night to save lives and bring the situation under control,” he said.Omotoso urged residents to prioritise safety over economic considerations.“The most important lesson from this incident is that nobody should prioritise livelihood over life. Once life is lost, everything is lost. No business is worth risking human lives for,” he added.PUNCH Online had earlier reported that the building, which housed shops and business premises, collapsed in the Alakija area, prompting the activation of the state’s emergency response system.Initial reports from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency confirmed that 26 persons were rescued alive and eight others, including a baby girl, died in the incident. However, the latest update from the state government put the casualty figures at 27 rescued and nine fatalities. “As you can see, these buildings had been marked as distressed and people were asked to leave. Unfortunately, some residents returned after pretending to have moved out, leading to this tragic outcome,” Omotoso said.He added that other distressed buildings in the area would be demolished to prevent similar incidents.“All the buildings that have been identified as defective will go down. We cannot wait until another tragedy occurs before taking action. The protection of lives remains our priority,” he said.Omotoso also condemned the construction and occupation of buildings beneath high-tension power lines, describing the practice as unsafe and unacceptable.Related NewsRead food labels before buying packaged foods, NAFDAC tells NigeriansNSCDC seals seven illegal mineral processing centres in Niger, arrests fourSoldiers rescue eight kidnap victims in Plateau forest“It is not done in any civilised society. Such developments show disregard for safety regulations and contempt for the law. Government will continue to clamp down on such violations,” he said.He assured residents that a full investigation into the collapse had commenced, stressing that anyone found responsible would face prosecution.“The owners of the building are under investigation. Anybody found complicit in this tragedy will face the law. They will be prosecuted because no one is above the law,” he said.The commissioner said most of the rescued victims sustained no life-threatening injuries, while those requiring further medical attention had been taken to the hospital.He also praised the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the police, the military, neighbourhood safety personnel and other emergency responders for their swift response.“I must commend all our emergency responders who worked tirelessly throughout the night to save lives and bring the situation under control,” he said.Omotoso urged residents to prioritise safety over economic considerations.“The most important lesson from this incident is that nobody should prioritise livelihood over life. Once life is lost, everything is lost. No business is worth risking human lives for,” he added.PUNCH Online had earlier reported that the building, which housed shops and business premises, collapsed in the Alakija area, prompting the activation of the state’s emergency response system.Initial reports from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency confirmed that 26 persons were rescued alive and eight others, including a baby girl, died in the incident. However, the latest update from the state government put the casualty figures at 27 rescued and nine fatalities. He added that other distressed buildings in the area would be demolished to prevent similar incidents.“All the buildings that have been identified as defective will go down. We cannot wait until another tragedy occurs before taking action. The protection of lives remains our priority,” he said.Omotoso also condemned the construction and occupation of buildings beneath high-tension power lines, describing the practice as unsafe and unacceptable.Related NewsRead food labels before buying packaged foods, NAFDAC tells NigeriansNSCDC seals seven illegal mineral processing centres in Niger, arrests fourSoldiers rescue eight kidnap victims in Plateau forest“It is not done in any civilised society. Such developments show disregard for safety regulations and contempt for the law. Government will continue to clamp down on such violations,” he said.He assured residents that a full investigation into the collapse had commenced, stressing that anyone found responsible would face prosecution.“The owners of the building are under investigation. Anybody found complicit in this tragedy will face the law. They will be prosecuted because no one is above the law,” he said.The commissioner said most of the rescued victims sustained no life-threatening injuries, while those requiring further medical attention had been taken to the hospital.He also praised the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the police, the military, neighbourhood safety personnel and other emergency responders for their swift response.“I must commend all our emergency responders who worked tirelessly throughout the night to save lives and bring the situation under control,” he said.Omotoso urged residents to prioritise safety over economic considerations.“The most important lesson from this incident is that nobody should prioritise livelihood over life. Once life is lost, everything is lost. No business is worth risking human lives for,” he added.PUNCH Online had earlier reported that the building, which housed shops and business premises, collapsed in the Alakija area, prompting the activation of the state’s emergency response system.Initial reports from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency confirmed that 26 persons were rescued alive and eight others, including a baby girl, died in the incident. However, the latest update from the state government put the casualty figures at 27 rescued and nine fatalities. “All the buildings that have been identified as defective will go down. We cannot wait until another tragedy occurs before taking action. The protection of lives remains our priority,” he said.Omotoso also condemned the construction and occupation of buildings beneath high-tension power lines, describing the practice as unsafe and unacceptable.Related NewsRead food labels before buying packaged foods, NAFDAC tells NigeriansNSCDC seals seven illegal mineral processing centres in Niger, arrests fourSoldiers rescue eight kidnap victims in Plateau forest“It is not done in any civilised society. Such developments show disregard for safety regulations and contempt for the law. Government will continue to clamp down on such violations,” he said.He assured residents that a full investigation into the collapse had commenced, stressing that anyone found responsible would face prosecution.“The owners of the building are under investigation. Anybody found complicit in this tragedy will face the law. They will be prosecuted because no one is above the law,” he said.The commissioner said most of the rescued victims sustained no life-threatening injuries, while those requiring further medical attention had been taken to the hospital.He also praised the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the police, the military, neighbourhood safety personnel and other emergency responders for their swift response.“I must commend all our emergency responders who worked tirelessly throughout the night to save lives and bring the situation under control,” he said.Omotoso urged residents to prioritise safety over economic considerations.“The most important lesson from this incident is that nobody should prioritise livelihood over life. Once life is lost, everything is lost. No business is worth risking human lives for,” he added.PUNCH Online had earlier reported that the building, which housed shops and business premises, collapsed in the Alakija area, prompting the activation of the state’s emergency response system.Initial reports from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency confirmed that 26 persons were rescued alive and eight others, including a baby girl, died in the incident. However, the latest update from the state government put the casualty figures at 27 rescued and nine fatalities. Omotoso also condemned the construction and occupation of buildings beneath high-tension power lines, describing the practice as unsafe and unacceptable.Related NewsRead food labels before buying packaged foods, NAFDAC tells NigeriansNSCDC seals seven illegal mineral processing centres in Niger, arrests fourSoldiers rescue eight kidnap victims in Plateau forest“It is not done in any civilised society. Such developments show disregard for safety regulations and contempt for the law. Government will continue to clamp down on such violations,” he said.He assured residents that a full investigation into the collapse had commenced, stressing that anyone found responsible would face prosecution.“The owners of the building are under investigation. Anybody found complicit in this tragedy will face the law. They will be prosecuted because no one is above the law,” he said.The commissioner said most of the rescued victims sustained no life-threatening injuries, while those requiring further medical attention had been taken to the hospital.He also praised the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the police, the military, neighbourhood safety personnel and other emergency responders for their swift response.“I must commend all our emergency responders who worked tirelessly throughout the night to save lives and bring the situation under control,” he said.Omotoso urged residents to prioritise safety over economic considerations.“The most important lesson from this incident is that nobody should prioritise livelihood over life. Once life is lost, everything is lost. No business is worth risking human lives for,” he added.PUNCH Online had earlier reported that the building, which housed shops and business premises, collapsed in the Alakija area, prompting the activation of the state’s emergency response system.Initial reports from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency confirmed that 26 persons were rescued alive and eight others, including a baby girl, died in the incident. However, the latest update from the state government put the casualty figures at 27 rescued and nine fatalities. “It is not done in any civilised society. Such developments show disregard for safety regulations and contempt for the law. Government will continue to clamp down on such violations,” he said.He assured residents that a full investigation into the collapse had commenced, stressing that anyone found responsible would face prosecution.“The owners of the building are under investigation. Anybody found complicit in this tragedy will face the law. They will be prosecuted because no one is above the law,” he said.The commissioner said most of the rescued victims sustained no life-threatening injuries, while those requiring further medical attention had been taken to the hospital.He also praised the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the police, the military, neighbourhood safety personnel and other emergency responders for their swift response.“I must commend all our emergency responders who worked tirelessly throughout the night to save lives and bring the situation under control,” he said.Omotoso urged residents to prioritise safety over economic considerations.“The most important lesson from this incident is that nobody should prioritise livelihood over life. Once life is lost, everything is lost. No business is worth risking human lives for,” he added.PUNCH Online had earlier reported that the building, which housed shops and business premises, collapsed in the Alakija area, prompting the activation of the state’s emergency response system.Initial reports from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency confirmed that 26 persons were rescued alive and eight others, including a baby girl, died in the incident. However, the latest update from the state government put the casualty figures at 27 rescued and nine fatalities. He assured residents that a full investigation into the collapse had commenced, stressing that anyone found responsible would face prosecution.“The owners of the building are under investigation. Anybody found complicit in this tragedy will face the law. They will be prosecuted because no one is above the law,” he said.The commissioner said most of the rescued victims sustained no life-threatening injuries, while those requiring further medical attention had been taken to the hospital.He also praised the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the police, the military, neighbourhood safety personnel and other emergency responders for their swift response.“I must commend all our emergency responders who worked tirelessly throughout the night to save lives and bring the situation under control,” he said.Omotoso urged residents to prioritise safety over economic considerations.“The most important lesson from this incident is that nobody should prioritise livelihood over life. Once life is lost, everything is lost. No business is worth risking human lives for,” he added.PUNCH Online had earlier reported that the building, which housed shops and business premises, collapsed in the Alakija area, prompting the activation of the state’s emergency response system.Initial reports from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency confirmed that 26 persons were rescued alive and eight others, including a baby girl, died in the incident. However, the latest update from the state government put the casualty figures at 27 rescued and nine fatalities. “The owners of the building are under investigation. Anybody found complicit in this tragedy will face the law. They will be prosecuted because no one is above the law,” he said.The commissioner said most of the rescued victims sustained no life-threatening injuries, while those requiring further medical attention had been taken to the hospital.He also praised the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the police, the military, neighbourhood safety personnel and other emergency responders for their swift response.“I must commend all our emergency responders who worked tirelessly throughout the night to save lives and bring the situation under control,” he said.Omotoso urged residents to prioritise safety over economic considerations.“The most important lesson from this incident is that nobody should prioritise livelihood over life. Once life is lost, everything is lost. No business is worth risking human lives for,” he added.PUNCH Online had earlier reported that the building, which housed shops and business premises, collapsed in the Alakija area, prompting the activation of the state’s emergency response system.Initial reports from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency confirmed that 26 persons were rescued alive and eight others, including a baby girl, died in the incident. However, the latest update from the state government put the casualty figures at 27 rescued and nine fatalities. The commissioner said most of the rescued victims sustained no life-threatening injuries, while those requiring further medical attention had been taken to the hospital.He also praised the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the police, the military, neighbourhood safety personnel and other emergency responders for their swift response.“I must commend all our emergency responders who worked tirelessly throughout the night to save lives and bring the situation under control,” he said.Omotoso urged residents to prioritise safety over economic considerations.“The most important lesson from this incident is that nobody should prioritise livelihood over life. Once life is lost, everything is lost. No business is worth risking human lives for,” he added.PUNCH Online had earlier reported that the building, which housed shops and business premises, collapsed in the Alakija area, prompting the activation of the state’s emergency response system.Initial reports from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency confirmed that 26 persons were rescued alive and eight others, including a baby girl, died in the incident. However, the latest update from the state government put the casualty figures at 27 rescued and nine fatalities. He also praised the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the police, the military, neighbourhood safety personnel and other emergency responders for their swift response.“I must commend all our emergency responders who worked tirelessly throughout the night to save lives and bring the situation under control,” he said.Omotoso urged residents to prioritise safety over economic considerations.“The most important lesson from this incident is that nobody should prioritise livelihood over life. Once life is lost, everything is lost. No business is worth risking human lives for,” he added.PUNCH Online had earlier reported that the building, which housed shops and business premises, collapsed in the Alakija area, prompting the activation of the state’s emergency response system.Initial reports from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency confirmed that 26 persons were rescued alive and eight others, including a baby girl, died in the incident. However, the latest update from the state government put the casualty figures at 27 rescued and nine fatalities. “I must commend all our emergency responders who worked tirelessly throughout the night to save lives and bring the situation under control,” he said.Omotoso urged residents to prioritise safety over economic considerations.“The most important lesson from this incident is that nobody should prioritise livelihood over life. Once life is lost, everything is lost. No business is worth risking human lives for,” he added.PUNCH Online had earlier reported that the building, which housed shops and business premises, collapsed in the Alakija area, prompting the activation of the state’s emergency response system.Initial reports from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency confirmed that 26 persons were rescued alive and eight others, including a baby girl, died in the incident. However, the latest update from the state government put the casualty figures at 27 rescued and nine fatalities. Omotoso urged residents to prioritise safety over economic considerations.“The most important lesson from this incident is that nobody should prioritise livelihood over life. Once life is lost, everything is lost. No business is worth risking human lives for,” he added.PUNCH Online had earlier reported that the building, which housed shops and business premises, collapsed in the Alakija area, prompting the activation of the state’s emergency response system.Initial reports from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency confirmed that 26 persons were rescued alive and eight others, including a baby girl, died in the incident. However, the latest update from the state government put the casualty figures at 27 rescued and nine fatalities. “The most important lesson from this incident is that nobody should prioritise livelihood over life. Once life is lost, everything is lost. No business is worth risking human lives for,” he added.PUNCH Online had earlier reported that the building, which housed shops and business premises, collapsed in the Alakija area, prompting the activation of the state’s emergency response system.Initial reports from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency confirmed that 26 persons were rescued alive and eight others, including a baby girl, died in the incident. However, the latest update from the state government put the casualty figures at 27 rescued and nine fatalities. PUNCH Online had earlier reported that the building, which housed shops and business premises, collapsed in the Alakija area, prompting the activation of the state’s emergency response system.Initial reports from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency confirmed that 26 persons were rescued alive and eight others, including a baby girl, died in the incident. However, the latest update from the state government put the casualty figures at 27 rescued and nine fatalities. Initial reports from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency confirmed that 26 persons were rescued alive and eight others, including a baby girl, died in the incident. However, the latest update from the state government put the casualty figures at 27 rescued and nine fatalities.