Compensate Building Collapse Victims, SERAP Tells Ajimobi

By Abiodun Ogunrinde, Ibadan

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability
Project (SERAP) has asked the Oyo state
government to adequately compensate the victims of the collapsed building at Ibadan the Oyo state
capital.

In a statement by the Deputy Director of SERAP,
Kolawole Oluwadare, the group asked the
governments of the two states to take meaningful
steps to avoid further damage to the human rights
of the people affected.

“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.

“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”.

The statement further read that, “The collapse of
the school building is due to weak enforcement
regulations or corruption which is an implicit attack on the right of Nigerian children to education, life, and human dignity. Such a 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 further blamed both incidents on what it
describes as the weak enforcement of building
regulations and oversight by the two states and is
advocating an urgent need for effective action and
reforms.

In order to prevent other tragedies, the
organisation is also urging both federal and state
authorities to monitor and effectively enforce
compliance with their regulatory and
environmental standards.