Daily Trust

Lagosians donate blood for survivors of building collapse ...as Tinubu urges adequate treatment

- From Nurudeen Oyewole, Christiana T. Alabi (Lagos) & Usman Bello (Benin)

Hundreds of Lagos State residents turned up yesterday for blood donation to victims of the collapsed three-storey building at Ita-Faji area of Lagos Island hours after appeals on social media.

Red Cross and other humanitari­an groups had appealed for voluntary blood donation to survivors on social media.

Our correspond­ent who was at the Lagos Island General Hospital and Lagos Island Maternity Centre observed impressive turnout of residents, subjecting themselves to medical checks, while donating blood.

Daily Trust learnt that rescue efforts have been called off.

Daramola Hassan, who works with a telecommun­ication firm, said: “I believe this is the least we can contribute as people. Besides, the General Hospital is close to our office. We hope little efforts of ours and that of others who have turned up here will be of immense contributi­on to the well being of these affected persons.”

Similarly, Aminat Solahudeen, a 35-year-old caterer, said as a mother, she was moved by the plights of many of the victims especially the children and was interested in contributi­ng her quota to helping the affected.

The head, Social Work Department, Lagos Island General Hospital, Oluwakemi Olumuyide said the turnout of blood donors had been quite impressive.

The All Progressiv­es Congress’ national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu commiserat­ed with families of the victims and asked the state government to ensure adequate survivors.

In a statement by his spokesman, Tunde Rahman, Tinubu urged the state government to fast-track demolition arrangemen­t once a building is discovered to be weak and deserving of demolition in order to save lives. “While we await the inquiry into the circumstan­ces that led to the incident, we must all support government’s interventi­on efforts. The Lagos State Material Testing Laboratory for buildings must be strengthen­ed and the officers must do their work.”

Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, in a statement by his spokesman, Crusore Osagie, commiserat­ed with families of the victims of the building collapse, describing the incident as a huge loss to the country.

The governor wished survivors quick recovery. treatment for the the

 ?? Photo: Abubakar Yakubu ?? From right: Etsu Nupe/Chairman Niger State Council of Traditiona­l Rulers, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar; Chairman Governing Board, National Gallery of Art (NGA), Alhaji Umaru A. Sulaiman; Director-General NGA, Abdullahi Muku; and Director- General, National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Segun Runsewe (behind), during the presentati­on of books and exhibition of the NGA’s publicatio­ns in Abuja yesterday
Photo: Abubakar Yakubu From right: Etsu Nupe/Chairman Niger State Council of Traditiona­l Rulers, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar; Chairman Governing Board, National Gallery of Art (NGA), Alhaji Umaru A. Sulaiman; Director-General NGA, Abdullahi Muku; and Director- General, National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Segun Runsewe (behind), during the presentati­on of books and exhibition of the NGA’s publicatio­ns in Abuja yesterday

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