The Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, on Wednesday approved the repatriation of 54 bodies of South African victims of the Synagogue building collapsed in Alimosho.

Fashola gave the approval to the South African Government at Lagos House, Marina, when he received a delegation from the country led by a Special Envoy and Minister from the Presidency, Jeff Radebe, who said they had come to seek the help of the Lagos State Government in expediting the process of repatriation of the corpses.

The governor said that 70 bodies had so far been identified through DNA tests, with 54 being South Africans.

Fashola, who sought the understanding of the South African Government on the issue, said the state was making all efforts necessary to avoid any mistakes that may cause the release of bodies of victims to the wrong families.

“We have no reason to deny you the right to take those 54 bodies, you have my word, you can take them whenever you are ready to do so. It is left for you to decide whether to take them in batches or wait until we conclude the exercise. But if you are ready, my team will ensure that you take them without any delay,” he said.

The governor sympathized with the government and and people of South Africans on the incident, noting that he knew how difficult the disaster must have been for President Jacob Zuma and the pressure that he is going through.

“I understand the call by South Africans to get the bodies of their relatives but we cannot at this time get the process wrong because if we release a body, we want to ensure that each family takes the body of their relative. It will be un-pardonable for us to make mistakes,” he said.