The Lagos State Government has published the findings of the panel assigned to investigate the elevator accident resulting in the tragic death of Dr. Vwaere Diaso, a medical doctor at the General Hospital, Odan, Lagos Island.

According to Mr. Olumide Sogunle, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Strategy, the government has taken prompt actions based on the panel's discoveries. These actions include terminating and blacklisting the elevator facility managers and suspending the General Manager of the Lagos State Infrastructure and Asset Management Agency, among other measures.

Sogunle clarified that the elevator in question was newly installed in 2021 and refuted reports of prior faults dating back to 2020. The Lagos Safety Commission, in collaboration with elevator experts, conducted an initial inspection and will further examine the elevator's mechanics to determine why its safety features failed during the accident. Depending on their findings, appropriate actions will be taken against the elevator installer if necessary.

In response to the incident, the state government has restructured the operations and line of reporting of the facility managers, directly involving the hospital management. The installation and maintenance contractors have been handed over to the police for further investigation and potential prosecution if found negligent. The police will also investigate any other parties that may have been responsible for the incident.

Engineers are diligently working to ascertain why all the safety devices of the elevator malfunctioned simultaneously. Additionally, all staff members are fully insured, and the life insurance providers have been informed about the incident.

As a preventive measure, the Lagos Safety Commission has been directed to conduct an immediate audit of all elevators in public offices, supplementing the existing safety arrangements.