Lagos State Government has revoked all building permits and ordered builders to reapply for validation to continue construction.
Gatekeepers News reports that Special Adviser to the state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on e-GIS and Urban Development, Dr Olajide Babatunde, announced this during a visit to the collapsed building site in Maryland, Ikeja, on Saturday.
The building which was under construction collapsed on Thursday at 13 Wilson Mba Street, Arowojobe Estate, Maryland, Lagos, killing five workers.
The Special Adviser was accompanied by General Manager of Lagos State Building Control Agency, Gbolahun Oki, and some executive members.
He said, “All commencement certificates 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 special adviser expressed deep sorrow over the incident, saying that such occurrences should not happen.
Babatunde acknowledged the government’s responsibility in preventing building collapses and blamed property owners and developers for negligence and for violating building regulations.
He emphasised the importance of obtaining a Certificate of Completion or Fitness for Habitation before occupying a building.
Babatunde noted that the government would prosecute anyone found violating this rule, as it has strict regulations regarding building construction and occupancy.
Babatunde added that buildings must be certified by LASBCA before habitation and that failure to comply is a criminal offence.
He also disclosed that LASBCA would increase enforcement, including using private consultants to inspect buildings.
Babatunde said that the agency had taken steps to enforce building regulations, including issuing stop-work orders and sealing buildings.
The spokesman said that the agency is still faced with some challenges due to limited resources and hostile developers.
He urged private professionals to cooperate with government to strengthen building regulation enforcement in the state.
