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.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the Ojuelegba barracks, Surulere, could suffer similar fate any time.
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.
Source: PunchNg
