Prominent developer, Femi Osibona, the brain behind the collapsed 21-storey building which collapsed on Gerrard Road, Ikoyi area of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria has been found dead by the rescue team on Thursday.
The building under construction collapsed on Monday afternoon with many trapped and some dead. About 38 dead bodies have since been evacuated from the debris of the collapsed building.
Osibona is the developer of the massive project dubbed: 360 Degrees Towers on 44 BCD Gerrard Road, Ikoyi. The project represents three fine pieces of high-rise and real estate, being built in the area.
Two of the projects are still standing tall while the third one collapsed on Monday.
Osibona is the Managing Director of Fourscore Homes. He told newsmen in an interview in 2019 that Fourscore Homes is a member of the NHBRC (National Home Builders Registration Council) in South Africa and Zurich Building Guarantee in Europe, as part of the company’s presence overseas.
His company specialises in the building of choice properties in different parts of the world.
The first floor of the building has a suspended platform that serves as a recreational area where residents can unwind and hold a small party, if they wish. Also, there is a five-star lobby where residents can host friends and family members, without compromising their privacy.
The towers have various house types: Maisonettes of about 420sqms each on three floors; penthouses on two floors; and 4-bedroom flats on one floor, with each flat as large as 400sqms – almost twice the size of most flats in other developments in Ikoyi. The penthouses are about 600sqms to 800sqms.
Osibona’s company began its foray into real estate in the United Kingdom before branching out to South Africa and later Nigeria. In 2009, when Brig-General Buba Marwa (rtd) was the Nigerian High Commissioner in South Africa, Fourscore Homes built six luxury units called Fourscore Mansions in Waterkloof, a very expensive neighbourhood in Pretoria.
Osibona was also the first African developer to develop a seven-storey building in the United Kingdom. The property called Fourscore Mansion is located at 113, Albion Drive London Fields, E8, 4LZ, East London. Not only that, he was the first black developer of African origin to build other projects in the UK. The company’s real estate business started in Hackney, London in 1997.
The Ikenne born businessman grew up in Ojota, Lagos. He is a citizen of the United Kingdom.
In December 2020, it was reported that he is the owner of the “abandoned” Rolls Royce Cullinan on Boudillion road, Ikoyi .
According to CAC documents, his company FOURSCORE HOMES AND INVESTMENT LIMITED was incorporated in OJOTA, Nigeria with Registration Number 412217.
It was registered on 24 May 2001 and its current status is unknown.
Company’s registered office address is 34, EMMANUELHIGHSTREET, OJOTA, LAGOS.
He is the elder brother to Lanre Osibona, Special Assistant to the Vice President of Nigeria.
Meanwhile, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has declared three days of mourning over the Ikoyi building collapse which occurred on Monday. No fewer than 32 persons are believed to have died in the incident.
A statement by Gbenga Omotoso, Commissioner For Information & Strategy said all flags are to be flown at half-mast in public and private buildings and official engagements cancelled during the mourning period.
The state government commiserated with all those who lost their loved ones in the unfortunate incident.
“Governor Sanwo-Olu has visited the site thrice to encourage the rescuers and console relations of those who are believed to have been trapped in the 21-storey building. He was today at the hospital to cheer up those injured before swearing a six-man panel of Inquiry to find out why the building went down and recommend measures to prevent such incidents,” the statement read in part.
