Barely
six months after a building collapsed at the Pedro Police Barracks in
Bariga, Lagos, residents of another barracks in the state say buildings
in the Ojuelegba Police Barracks risk an imminent collapse.
Our correspondent had reported that a two-storey building in the Pedro barracks collapsed on the evening of June 30, 2014.
The Lagos State Governor, Babatunde
Fashola, who visited the area during the inauguration of an Information
and Communication Technology Resource centre at the Area C Command,
Surulere, said the government would assist in reconstructing the
barracks if the policemen could relocate from the structure.
He had said, “We have done a structural
assessment of the quarters, and it is very unsafe. If you evacuate the
building, and you demolish it, we will rebuild it. The sooner you
evacuate it and pull it down; the sooner our team will move in and
rebuild it to make it safe for you.”
It was gathered that an agency of the
state government, the Lagos State Building Control Agency, also sent its
officials to the police barracks, and evaluated the building as unsafe,
warning of its imminent collapse.
The General Manager, LASBCA, Mrs. Abimbola Animashaun, told PUNCH Metro on the telephone on Tuesday that the agency also assessed the police barracks in Ikeja and found it unsafe for living.
She said, “There are dangerous
structures in the barracks. When we visited some of these barracks, the
occupants saw us, and were a bit aggressive. The risks involved are
many; we have heard that slabs fell on children. In summary, we have
done our bit. It is left for the police.”
When our correspondent visited the
barracks on Tuesday, it was observed that most apartments had cracked
walls, while the iron rods holding some pillars had become visible and
rusty.
Our correspondent learnt that the barracks had four blocks with 27 rooms each.
Speaking with PUNCH Metro, a
corporal, who gave his name simply as Eddy, said the state of the toilet
facilities in the barracks could also lead to an epidemic.
He said, “As you can see, the barracks
is old and needs reconstruction. Although I moved in here in 2013, it
has not been a pleasant experience. The soak-away is bad, and it brings
out foul smell. The walls are cracking, and their rods are getting weak.
“We just stay here because there is no
alternative. The government may have allocated the funds for its
reconstruction, but we have not seen any evidence of such.”
Another occupant, who declined to give
her name, said the occupants were beginning to contribute money to patch
up the worst portions of the buildings.
Our correspondent learnt that policemen
from the rank of constable up to Superintendent of Police stay in the
barracks. It was gathered that a constable paid about N6, 000 rents
monthly, while an SP paid about N30, 000.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations
Officer, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, promised to get back to our correspondent on
the matter. He, however, had not got back as of press time.
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