Synagogue Building Collapse : Lagos Suspends Probe

The Lagos State government has suspended its independent investigation into the cause of the collapse of a guesthouse in the premises of Synagogue Church of All Nations, which killed 86 people on September 12.

State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Lateef Ibirogba, confirmed this on Tuesday, as he disclosed that all findings on the disaster would be withheld pending the outcome of another probe panel set up by the Federal Government.


The state government had on Monday called a world press conference on the disaster, which was later rescheduled for Tuesday.

Ibirogba, on Tuesday, announced that the briefing had been cancelled based on “experts’ advice”. He said the advice was taken since the Federal Government’s committee was already investigating the disaster.

 “We have some issues coming up. We would not want to do anything that will embarrass anyone, ourselves or compromise ongoing investigation being carried out by others. This is why we are putting this off; please bear with us,” he said.

On the rationale of Federal Government setting up another probe panel after the one constituted by the state government had concluded findings, Ibirogba said the fresh probe was in order since nationals of other countries were involved in the disaster.

The commissioner said: “we don’t want to pre-empt the committee or sentence anyone before comprehensive report. Agencies of government are working, with representatives of the state government. Together, they will make their findings known as soon as they are through.”

It will be recalled that the South African government had called on the Federal Government to quicken investigation into the building collapse, as majority of those who died in the incident were South Africans.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), shortly after the conclusion of rescue operations, had put the total number of the dead at 86.