| It was a technological spectacle yesterday in Lagos, as the 18-storey Bank of Industry (BoI) Tower, was finally brought down through controlled demolition exercise that lasted only 11 seconds. The skyscraper, which was located on 67/71 Broad Street, in Lagos Island, the country’s commercial nerve-centre, was demolished by the Lagos State Government, 30 months after it suffered partial collapse on March 22, 2006. No fewer than 1900 explosives were used by experts to bring down the massive structure. The building was brought down by Wreckers Dismantling Limited of South Africa, a sub-contractor of Hi-tech Engineering Company Nigeria Limited, through a controlled demolition operation, which occurred without any injury to man or damage to surrounding structures in the densely populated area. Fashola said he found Wreckers through persistent internet searches. The operation was witnessed by many dignitaries, including the State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, his Deputy, Princess Adebisi Sosan, the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu 1, former governor, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, the Akran of Badagry, Aholu Whenu Toyi, Chief Akintola Williams, Senator Shitta-Bey, some members of the State Executive Council, other traditional rulers, captains of industry, corporate executives and other prominent Lagosians, as well as members of the international community. Fashola said it would take about 10 weeks to clear the debris, which would be carried out deep in the night only, so that commercial activities would not be disturbed. Yesterday’s demolition, which took place at approximately 11a.m., climaxed more than six months of preparations, which involved wide consultations with all stakeholders, as well as taking measures to safeguard life and property in the vicinity of the building. The demolition begun after a count-down from five to zero, with the building crashing into a heap of debris. The implosion, which occurred with minimal noise, came with hardly any serious vibration. It, however, stirred very thick choking dust that pervaded the surrounding for more than 10 minutes. Fashola said immediately after the demolition, that he was thankful to God and the engineers that the incident occurred without any loss of life or property, adding that although government prepared for the worst, it hoped for and got the best. Speaking earlier, the Hi-tech technical manager, Barry Ames, said 1,900 explosives were planted in the building to aid the total demolition exercise, saying, “when the blast occured at the bottom of the building, it will make the building to collapse on its own weight; we will blast down and not up,” he said, adding that the exercise was the first of its kind in West Africa. To pave way for a hitch-free demolition, the state government acquired a building belonging to Layeni Family, located next to the BOI Tower, which it demolished and prepared as the support ground for landing of the debris. It also insured lives and property around the vicinity, as well as the workers to the tune of $150 million, while the error margin of the exercise was pegged at zero to two per cent. |
Sep222008