The Lagos State House of Assembly launched an investigation into the elevator tragedy that killed a medical doctor, Vwaere Diaso, on Thursday, pledging justice for the deceased.
The House also observed a one-minute silence in memory of the deceased, while expressing condolences to the late doctor’s family and friends, as well as the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).
Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, who established a committee to investigate the tragedy, stated that a thorough investigation of the incident that occurred lately at the General Hospital, Odan, Lagos Island, was required to ensure proper management and the safety of life.
Hon. David Setonji, Hon. Lara Oyekan, Olayinka Ajomale, Hon. Shabi Adekola, Omolara Olumegbon, Hon. Oluwa Akanbi, and Hon. Olarenwaju Afinni are among the eight members of the committee, which will be led by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Mojisola Meranda.
They have two weeks to present their findings to the House. Dr Obasa authorized the summoning of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, the Chief Medical Director of the institution, and the staff involved in the incident. He also requested that the NMA branch on Lagos Island be invited.
The Speaker described the grief that the loss of the medical doctor would cause her family.
“It is saddening to lose such a young promising daughter and there is no convincing explanation we can give to the parents and her colleagues; no amount of explanation can suffice,” he said.
The Speaker also urged the NMA to return to work, stressing that the government will look into their demands.
Earlier on the House floor, Hon. Olarenwaju Afinni, representing Lagos Island Constituency 2, requested his colleagues to assist in investigating the matter.
Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu, representing Eti-Osa 2, said the NMA has the right to express its displeasure at the loss of a colleague, but urged its members to end the indefinite strike to prevent further deaths.
“This incident saddens my heart and we sympathise with the family and NMA. We have seen their demands and we are appealing that they should resume work to prevent patients from dying,” he said.
Meanwhile, the House has directed the State Environmental and Special Offences Enforcement Unit to halt house demolitions in Lagos’ Kosofe Local Government Area immediately.
The House decided in response to a matter of urgent public significance’ brought by Hon. Sanni Okanlawon, who informed his colleagues that police stormed the area and demolished buildings.
He reported that the demolition crew claimed that only shanties would be damaged. He bemoaned the fact that the team had gone beyond the shanties and demolished several other structures.
According to him, over 300 individuals have lost their homes, property, and means of subsistence, and his findings suggest that the Ministry of Environment and the Police Taskforce led by one CSA Jejeloye were complicit.
Following that, Speaker Obasa asked the Clerk, Barrister Olalekan Onafeko, to write a letter to CSA Jejeloye and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, requesting that the demolition be halted.
He also appointed a five-member ad hoc committee to investigate the subject, which included Hon. Nureni Akinsanya, Hon. Adewale Temitope, Hon. Sanni Okanlawon, Hon. Femi Saheed, and Hon. Aro Moshood.
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