News
Rescuers Recover Body Of Owner Of Ikoyi Collapsed Building …Remove Trapped Victim’s Vehicle From Rubble …Sanwo-Olu Declares Three-Day Mourning
A body believed to be the owner of the building, Femi Osibona, was yesterday, recovered from the rubble at the scene of the collapsed building.
A combined team of emergency responders recovered the body which has been taken to a morgue.
As gathered, the lifeless body of Osibona, was recovered, yesterday, after painstaking efforts from emergency responders.
However, there were conflicting reports on when the body was actually recovered.
While a report said the body was recovered early yesterday, another stated yesterday evening.
As of press time, there was no official confirmation on the report.
The 16 floors building was owned and constructed by the late Osibona’s company, Fourscore Heights Limited.
After over 72 hours of rescue and search operations since the incident occurred, a vehicle belonging to one of the trapped victims was removed from the scene, yesterday evening by rescue team.
The details of the vehicle that was removed from the scene are YAB655AZ, Toyota Highlander.
The owner was said to be the owner of an aluminium fabrication company.
He came there with some of his workers and among them includes one Kenneth Otu.
However, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has declared three days of mourning over the Ikoyi building collapse, which occurred, last Monday.
No fewer than 32 persons have died in the incident, according to the governor.
In a statement released by Commissioner Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, yesterday, Sanwo-Olu, declared three days of mourning over the Ikoyi building collapse.
The statement read in part: “All flags are to be flown at half-mast in public and private buildings and official engagements cancelled during the mourning period.
“The Lagos State Government, once again, commiserates with all those who lost their loved ones in the unfortunate incident.
“Governor Sanwo-Olu has visited the site thrice to encourage the rescuers and console relations of those who are believed to have been trapped in the 21-storey building. He was today at the hospital to cheer up those injured before swearing in a six-man panel of Inquiry to find out why the building went down and recommend measures to prevent such incidents.”
Meanwhile, Sanwo-Olu has said that 32 bodies have been recovered from the rubble of the 21-floor Ikoyi building that collapsed, last Monday.
Speaking to newsmen at the site of rescue operations, yesterday, Sanwo-Olu said the state government was the source of authentic information about the incident.
It would be recalled that earlier, the death toll from the Ikoyi building collapse had been put at 38.
The Acting Coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Lagos State Territory, Ibrahim Farinloye, gave the update.
He said “additional two male bodies were recovered some minutes ago (Thursday morning) making the death toll a total number of 38 (35 males and three females)”.
Farinloye said the total number of survivors remained nine (one female, eight males).
Happy Birthday Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON
Honourable Minister Federal Capital Territory
News
We’ll Drive Tinubu’s Vision in Rivers With Vigour – Fubara …Inaugurates Dualized Ahoada/Omoku Road ….Debunks Rift With RSHA
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has stated that he will lead Rivers people to galvanize support for President Bola Tinubu to drive the vision and objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda in the State with vigour.
The governor, who joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on Tuesday, explained that his decision to join the APC was not for personal interest but for the overall benefit of Rivers State.
Fubara disclosed these while inaugurating the extension of the dualized Ahoada/ Omoku Express road in Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
He commended the contracting firm, Julius Berger, for timely delivery of the project, saying the project is a campaign promise fulfilled which will bring economic benefits to the people and tackle issues of insecurity associated with the route.
He said his administration has remained focused in delivering democratic dividends in the state despite facing glaring challenges.
The governor thanked the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas for their continuous support, and urged his supporters to remain steadfast and also support President Tinubu who he said, has demonstrated love to Rivers State as a father.
Fubara denied having rift with the Rivers State House of Assembly, stating that his meeting with the lawmakers was stalled as a result of delay in the agreed meeting to be convened by former Governor Nyesom Wike and other stakeholders for him to meet with the state lawmakers.
“I have made every effort to meet with the Assembly members, but it is not within my leadership to initiate the meeting process.
“The arrangement was for my leader, Wike, and the elders led by Anabraba to call for a meeting with the the lawmakers.
“I’m a gentleman and principled. I can’t go behind to call them when we’ve already agreed. Whoever that tell them that I don’t want to meet with them, or I rejected proposal meant for them isn’t saying the truth,” Fubara said.
The Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry Works, Mr Austin Ezekiel-Hart, who gave the project description, said the delivery of the project was a fulfillment of long time dream by the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas.
He said the road was previously a single lane and has now been dualised to 14.6 meters wide, complete with solar-powered streetlights with drainages.
He said the road significantly would reduce travel time between Ahoada and Omoku while improving economic activity in the region.
In his welcome address, Chairman of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area, Hon. Chuku Shedrack Ogbogu, described the road as a symbol of unity, oneness, and development, thanking the governor for fulfilling his campaign promises.
On his part, the Managing Director of Julius Berger, Engr. Peer Lusbash, said the project was awarded to his company in 2023 with a completion period of 18 months which was achieved in best quality.
He added that Julius Berger enjoyed a good support from the Fubara administration, and assured to complete all ongoing projects being handled by Julius Berger on specification, especially the Ring Road project which is a legacy project.
Rivers State, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, has reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring good healthcare for the people of Rivers State.
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?Governor Fubara stated this when he played host to the Country Director of UNICEF, Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef and her management team in Port Harcourt, last Tuesday.
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?The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba, said he would continue to provide the necessary facilities in order to ensure accessible and good health care for all Rivers people.
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?”We are constructing new zonal hospitals across the State. The Ahoada Zonal hospital will be commissioned in December and others are near completion.
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?”We are grateful to UNICEF for all they have done and believe we can always work together to care for the vulnerable in the society. We appreciate your physical presence, and believe that your staff working remotely, can also do more virtually. We have a capable Commissioner of Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, to help foster our relationship, communication and greater collaboration,” he said.
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?The Country Director for UNICEF Nigeria, Ms. Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef, assured Governor Fubara of UNICEF’s support to the programmes of the State Government. She appealed that health facilities such as the Oxygen Plant at Eleme Local Government Ares and the New Born Care Units be solarized.
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?”Be assured that UNICEF will continue to work and support the programmes here in Rivers State. We have seen the Oxygen Plant at Eleme LGA which has been effective because of the Public Private Partnership. We appeal that the plant be solarized.
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?”I commend your leadership of the State and assure that we are here to support your effort and assure you that you can count on our support and partnership. Rivers State is one of the states we can showcase how things are working so others can learn,” she added.
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