The Lagos State government has revoked all existing building permits, requiring builders to reapply for validation to continue construction.
This decision was announced by Olajide Babatunde, the Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on e-GIS and Urban Development, during a visit to the site of a collapsed building in Maryland, Ikeja, on Saturday.
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Mr Babatunde, accompanied by Gbolahun Oki, the General Manager of the Lagos State Building Collapse Agency (LASBCA), and other executive members, stated,
“All commencement certifications in Lagos are revoked effective immediately. This applies to everyone with a construction site, including those in the big five category. Return to the LASBCA office to revalidate that document; if you decide not to go for the revalidation of that documentation, we are going to seal that site.”
The directive follows a tragic incident on Thursday at 13, Wilson Mba Street, Arowojobe Estate, Maryland, where a building under construction collapsed, resulting in the death of five workers.
Mr Babatunde emphasised the government’s commitment to preventing such incidents, criticising property owners and developers for negligence and for violating building regulations.
He highlighted the necessity of obtaining a certificate of completion or fitness for habitation before occupying any building, stressing that non-compliance is a criminal offence.
The government, he added, would take legal action against violators and has strict regulations concerning building construction and occupancy.
LASBCA, under the leadership of Mr Oki, plans to increase enforcement, including employing private consultants to inspect buildings. The agency has already taken measures such as issuing stop-work orders and sealing unsafe structures.
Mr Oki elaborated on the agency’s response to the recent collapse and outlined steps to prevent future occurrences.
He stated that LASBCA would conduct a comprehensive inspection of buildings in the affected estate, demolishing those deemed unsafe.
He also highlighted the area’s poor soil conditions, underscoring the need for stringent building inspections and approvals.
To enhance worker safety, Mr Oki mentioned that the agency would strictly enforce construction hours (7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.) and prohibit on-site sleeping.
LASBCA plans to expand its capacity through public-private partnerships to strengthen building control and inspection processes.
