Press Releases

Controlled Demolition Of Bank Of Industry (BOI) Building Takes Place Sunday - Fashola

Sep 19, 2008 - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Friday disclosed that at “O-hour” on the morning of Sunday, September 21, a series of choreographed explosions will occur that will implode the Bank of Industry (BOI) building and bring down the structure.

Governor Fashola who made this known in a broadcast to the people of the State added that evacuation drills have already been carried out with local residents, fire service, ambulance service and security agencies in the preceding weeks to simulate the rallying points where shelter and other logistic support will be provided until it is safe for residents to return to their respective properties.

He reiterated that the government has undertaken painstaking planning for the controlled demolition operation and have been driven by the need to ensure maximum safety, security and protection of life and property.

He added that preparatory to the controlled demolition exercise all properties within a radius of 15,500 sq. metres from the target area (BOI building) have been acquired in the public interest.

In addition, Governor Fashola said the entire area between inner Marina, Martins Street, Breadfruit Street, Nnamdi Azikiwe Street and Custom Street to Marina has been prepared for evacuation from 0600 hours on the day of the exercise.

Adequate insurance cover, he also said has been taken by the firm handling the controlled demolition. “The principal contractor on behalf of the team has taken out a US$150 million public liability insurance in addition to an all risk insurance as a risk contingent. There is also a workmen compensation scheme for all operational staff during the exercise”, he said.

Governor Fashola added that the State has also published and distributed notices of information on the preparations for the demolition works in five (5) Nigerian languages including information on the eight roads on Lagos Island that will be closed to the public during the exercise.

He revealed that while being mindful of the property rights in the immediate vicinity of the BOI building, a status assessment of properties was reduced into a “Dilapidation Report” capturing the state of repair of the 25 buildings in the immediate vicinity.

Governor Fashola explained that the report documented each wall crack, existing structural defect or indeed broken window pane in actual detail.

“The demolition team then proceeded with a pre-weakening and protection of the target property; this included drilling for limited mechanical demolition; installation of wire-mesh and sealing of the structure on the inside to prevent dislodged elements from shooting out without control, upon the impact of explosion”, the Governor emphasized.

He added that a combination of plywood panels, scaffolding and geo-textile covers have also been used to protect surrounding structures from any impact.

The Governor said in all of these, the State Government’s team has maintained a weekly survey and benchmark check on the target structure’s stability.

While urging all Lagosians to be law abiding and follow carefully the instructions given by identified officials throughout the exercise, he reiterated that the exercise has been necessitated by a desire to uphold government’s constitutional responsibility of safety, welfare and the protection of the people and their property.

He recalled that on 22 March, 2006 Lagos was saved from a monumental catastrophe with the partial collapse of the Bank of Industry building at 67/71 Broad Street, Lagos.

In his words: “We were also lucky that the incident happened on a day when offices were closed, workers safely in their homes and vehicular traffic around Broad Street was virtually empty”.

He added that the State waited for the Bank of Industry management and the Federal Government to take measures to avoid total collapse of the building and possible disaster, no action was taken for months and the building continued to constitute a grave danger to the public.

This, he added prompted the state to take steps to ward off any potential danger to the public.

As part of the steps taken, the Lagos State Government in July, 2007 acquired the property at 63/67 Broad Street within the Central Business District - the Bank of Industry premises - exercising powers conferred on the Governor under Section 28 of the Land Use Act.

This step was taken in the interest of the public and citizens of Lagos State following the partial collapse of the structure on 22 March, 2006.

Governor Fashola said, “to do nothing means that it can come down at any time without warning with its attendant dangerous consequences”.

He reiterated that, “we have to make the courageous, responsible but certainly more difficult choice of bringing the building down in a controlled manner”.

He added that this prompted the State Government to appoint a carefully selected team of demolition experts with renowned local/international experience and expertise in controlled demolition which commenced preparatory work in March 2008.