* This story has been updated
South Africans officials on Tuesday expressed frustration with the lack of Nigerian government co-operation in trying to find out if South Africans believed to have been in a church guesthouse which collapsed in Lagos on Friday were killed or injured.
On Tuesday SA officials said they had heard from relatives that at least three South Africans had been injured. At least five SA church groups had been staying at the Synagogue Church of All Nations.
Thousands of Nigerian and international visitors flock to the church every year “to witness and receive from the mighty work that God is doing in the life of Prophet TB Joshua”, it’s website reads.
Website leadership.ng reported Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency continued work in the rubble on Tuesday and did not rule out finding survivors.
It said 44 were dead and 140 injured, the report added, while the Nigerian Mirror reported on Tuesday the death toll stood at 50.
Officials are expressing frustration with the lack of co-operation and competence on the part of the Nigerian authorities.
“The building collapsed on Friday. How can you not know on Tuesday whether there were any South Africans injured?” one irritated official said on Tuesday.
The South African consul-general in Lagos had been to the church on Saturday to try to find out if any South Africans had been involved but had been given no information.
The government had only discovered from the organisers of tour groups that members of several groups had been staying in the guest house. Clayson Monyela, spokesman for the Department of International Relations and Co-operation, said those who wished to enquire about relatives could contact the department on a 24-hour basis using the following contact numbers: 012 351 0924/012 351 1757.