Collapsed building: Lagos Govt revokes all existing building permits

All current building permits have been withdrawn by the Lagos State Government.

The Government has also mandated that builders submit new applications to be approved to resume work.

Dr Olajide Babatunde, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on e-GIS and Urban Development, disclosed this on Saturday.

Dr Babatunde issued the directive when he visited the collapsed building site at 13, Wilson Mba Street, Arowojobe Estate, Maryland, Lagos. The building under construction collapsed on Thursday, resulting in the death of five workers.

Accompanied by Mr Gbolahan Oki, the General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Dr Babatunde stated: “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 e-GIS boss emphasised that such occurrences should not happen. Acknowledging the government’s responsibility in preventing building collapse, Dr Babatunde blamed property owners and developers for negligence and violation of building regulations.

He added that before taking up residence in a building, it is mandatory to get a Certificate of Completion or Fitness for Habitation. He vowed the government would prosecute anyone found to be in violation of this order.

Dr Babatunde pointed out that there were stringent government rules governing the design and use of buildings, stressing that non-compliance with the LASBCA’s certification requirements for buildings before they are inhabited is a crime.

He said that the LASBCA will use private experts to inspect structures as part of its increased enforcement measures.

According to Babatunde, the organization has taken action to enforce construction codes, such as sealing structures and issuing stop-work orders but hampered by a lack of funding and uncooperative developers.