Compensate victims of building collapse in Lagos, Ibadan—-SERAP

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has
urged “the governments of Lagos and Oyo states to “take immediate
action to address the numerous ongoing human rights impacts of the
deadly and catastrophic building collapse in their respective
states, including by taking meaningful steps to avoid further
damage to the human rights of the people affected.”

The organization said: “The Lagos State governor, Akinwumi
Ambode and Oyo State governor, Abiola Ajimobi should ensure as a
matter of priority, access of victims and their families to
effective remedies in a transparent manner, specifically, access to
justice, adequate compensation, reparation, and guarantees that
incidents like these can never happen again.”

According to the organization: “These tragedies point to weak
enforcement of building regulations and oversight by the two states
and urgent need for effective action and reforms. SERAP is
concerned that the responses so far by the governments of Lagos and
Oyo states have been insufficient to deal with the massive extent
of the human costs of the incidents.”

In a statement today, SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare
said: “These incidents come as a tragic reminder of the
mismanagement, weakness in the regulatory and monitoring regime.
The governments should have done more to prevent them from
happening. The governors should act decisively on their commitments
to do everything in their powers to prevent more such tragedies,
and to bring to justice those responsible, to serve as a deterrent
and end the negligence at which many are carrying out their
duties.”

The statement read in part: “Schools should be a sanctuary – a
place where children can learn, develop and play with their
classmates, and prepare for their future lives in society. Collapse
of school building due to weak enforcement regulations or
corruption is an implicit attack on the right of Nigerian children
to education, life, and human dignity. Such situation creates an
environment of fear and severely diminishes the quality of
children’s education.”

“The tragedies demand accountability and both Lagos and Oyo
states should accept responsibility for these incidents; promptly,
thoroughly and impartially investigate exactly how they happened,
and publicly apologise to the victims, their families and
Nigerians. Building developers and contractors can only be properly
held to account if the two states do the right thing for the harm
they have caused.”

“SERAP is seriously concerned about the frequency of building
collapse in the country. Many buildings within Lagos and Oyo states
reportedly remain in breach of minimum standards. Both governments
should urgently take effective monitoring and enforcement action
and provide conclusive evidence that buildings within their states
are safe, strong, stable and meet applicable legal and building
standards.”

“In order to prevent other tragedies, authorities at both
federal and state levels should monitor and effectively enforce
compliance by public and private actors with their regulatory and
environmental standards. President Muhammadu Buhari and all the 36
state governors should publicly commit that they will do everything
possible to prevent new tragedies like those of Lagos Island and
Bode, Ibadan.”

“We condemn the collapse of a three-storey building in Ita Faji
area of Lagos Island with over 20 people including school children
reportedly dead and 45 injured, and the collapse of a two-storey
building in Ibadan, Oyo State, with some people reportedly
injured.”

“We stand in solidarity with those affected and ready to help by
providing free legal advice, assistance and support in order to
ensure that justice is not only done, but also seen to be done in
these cases.”