Synagogue Building Was Not Approved - Contractor

Lagos — The contractor whose firm built the collapsed building of the Synagogue Church of All Nations in Lagos, Mr Akingbola Fatiregu, yesterday told the coroner investigating the collapse that the building was constructed in line with best practices even as it was not approved.

Fatiregun, who is also the Managing Director of Hardrock Construction and Engineering Ltd, spoke at the resumed hearing of the inquest which was set up by the Lagos State government to unravel the September 12, 2014 incident which killed 116 people, mostly South Africans.

Testifying before the coroner's inquest, Fatiregun said his company was contracted to supply the workers and equipment for the six-storey building while the church opted to supply other building materials such as sand, quarry, cement and reinforcement needed for the structure.

He said the architectural and structural design of the building was done by another firm which supervised the construction of the building by his company.

But while being cross-examined by the counsel to the Lagos State Government, Mr Akingbolan Adeniran, Fatiregun admitted that the collapsed building had no permit from the government, just as the Lagos State Building Control Agency was not consulted before the building was constructed. He however said these factors were not responsible for the collapse because there was no sign of stress in the building before it went down. Proceedings will continue today.