LAGOS: Govt seeks stakeholders’ involvement in ending building collapse

POISED to put an end to the incessant building collapse in the state, the Lagos government has appealed to royal fathers, professionals, community leaders and residents to report incidents of illegal development in their areas to the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.

Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development (MPP&UD), Dr. Idris Salako made the appeal during a stakeholders’ engagement and enlightenment forum organised by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) with the theme, ‘Prevention Of Building Collapse – A Collective Responsibility’.

According to Salako, the forum was designed to avail the residents an opportunity to understand physical planning and building control regulations in order to forestall building collapse and also enlighten them on the provisions of the state urban and regional planning and development (amended) law of 2019.

Salako disclosed that the choice of Lagos Island Local Government as the venue of the event was strategic due to the high rate of building collapse experienced over the years within the area.

His words: “The Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development  (amended) law 2019 was aimed at achieving zero tolerance to incidents of building collapse, illegal development and non-conforming development among others, with a view to ensuring a better physical environment for sustainable development.”   

The Commissioner, while also assuring that the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu will leave no stone unturned in ensuring compliance with all regulations put in place to stop building collapse in Lagos, also sought the cooperation of residents in the implementation of all existing laws and regulations.

General Manager, Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Engr. Abiola Kosegbe, in her remark, stated that at the end of the forum engagement, the state government intends to evaluate inputs with a view to developing ideas and strategies that will help reduce the menace of building collapse.

She said, “This programme is to ensure that buildings are safe and habitable in order to avert the spate of collapse of structures and provide the much-needed certification on all buildings within the state.”

Kosegbe, promised that the Ministry of Physical Planning And Development, as well as LASBCA, will continue to come up with reforms and initiatives geared towards the prevention of building collapse to meet global best practice, which includes the introduction of green check sticker and comprehensive site logbook among other new initiatives.

She explained that the agency’s green check sticker initiative is to ensure that property without the stickers are easily identified by both the general public and LASBCA officials for necessary enforcement.

 She added that the agency will continue to put more efforts into the post-construction audit of existing structures in order to determine the structural stability and fitness of such buildings.

While noting that good maintenance culture is key to the lifespan of a building, the general manager appealed to all stakeholders to imbibe the culture of building according to stipulated laws, rules and regulations.