Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, Tuesday, ordered occupants of all houses built by Lekki Gardens to vacate immediately as government wants to conduct integrity test on all the buildings to ascertain their durability.

The governor directed that stability test be conducted on all building constructed by the Lekki Gardens to ascertain their structural integrity, stressing that any building found to be defective will be demolished.

The Governor who addressed the press at the Lagos House, Ikeja, shortly after inspecting the site of the collapsed building in Lekki being built by Lekki Gardens, said the incident which claimed 34 lives and left several others injured was “one building collapse too many”.

He said since the unfortunate incident the state government has taken several steps to stem the tide of building collapse, saying that his administration is determined not to fail in the responsibility of ensuring the safety of lives and property of its citizens.

“The State Government will undertake a stability test on all other buildings constructed by the developer in the state, whether occupied or not, to ascertain their structural stability. The developer will pay the cost of the tests. Any building found to be defective would be demolished. For those that pass the integrity test the developer will pay a penalty for any overdevelopment on the site,” he said.

Governor Ambode who commiserated with those who suffered loss and injury as a result of the building collapse said since the incident, the state government has ordered the immediate sealing of the construction site and cessation of further construction, co-ordinated emergency rescue of all injured victims and treatment at its hospitals, prosecution of owners of the collapsed building as well as dismissal of some government officials.

He said that the government going forward will carry out an audit of all structures in the state to ascertain those with or without planning approval, adding that details of the plan will be made public soon.

“I want to assure you that there will no longer be any sacred cows. If there is failure of duty, there will be sanctions.

“I also want to seize this opportunity to assure Lagosians that the State Government will do everything within its powers to check the excesses of Developers who flout its regulations and will restore efficiency and confidence in the building control and supervision process,” Ambode said.