The three-storey building that collapsed Sunday night in Ebute Metta, Lagos was marked for demolition and the tenants had been asked to move.
The Dosunmu family which owns the property said they tried unsuccessfully to get the tenants to leave.
A member of the family, Oyinleke Dosunmu spoke with Nigeria Info.
“We reported to Alausa (Lagos State government). Alausa people came and marked the place,” he said.
“They even came to seal their shops, sometimes. They sealed about three shops outside there. So, after some days they (tenants) started begging …”
He disclosed that the family had a series of meetings with the tenants who accused them of using the quit notice as a ploy to increase their rent.
But one of the tenants, Issac Irhirhi refuted the claim that they refused to move.
He said they had they were given a June deadline to vacate the building.
“They said we shouldn’t pay above June, which is six months,” he countered.
Nigeria Info is yet to confirm if the quit notice given to the tenants had a June timeline.
Eight Persons Confirmed Dead
The building on 32 Ibadan Street, Ebute Metta collapsed around 9 pm on Sunday.
Eight persons have been confirmed dead, 23 rescued and an unknown number still trapped by 10 am Monday.
The National Emergency Management Agency said the rescued include 16 adults and seven children.
Nearby Building Evacuated
Another three-storey close to the one that just collapsed has been evacuated by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
The South West coordinator of NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye said the building was showing signs of caving in.
A test will be conducted to determine the structural integrity of the building.
