Building collapse: LASG, BCPG to tackle illegal construction

The Lagos State Government and the Building Collapse Prevention Guild have called on stakeholders in the built environment and members of the public to join forces with the government to stop the incessant collapse of buildings in the state and the country at large.

They stated that people could do this by reporting cases of illegal construction and defective structures to the appropriate government agencies.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Foluso Dipe, said the government would keep its doors open to constructive ideas from various quarters.

According to Dipe, all stakeholders have different roles to play in maintaining a sustainable, organised and liveable megacity.

“You will note that we have been engaging relevant stakeholders in the built environment because we are aware that the job of achieving a sustainable and liveable city is a collective one,” he said.

While commending the BCPG led by its Chairman, Mr. Solomon Ogunseye, for partnering the state government to stem building collapse, Dipe said the Lagos State government would continue to maintain its zero tolerance to indiscriminate building construction without obtaining the necessary approval.

He noted that the state was determined to ease the process of building plan approval to considerably reduce the processing period.

Ogunseye, who also called for collaboration, urged the state government to expedite action on the review of town planning law.

He said there was a need for synergy between the guild and the ministry in proper monitoring of construction sites in the state.

Ogunseye pledged the continued support of the guild, in the best interest of all stakeholders, towards eliminating quackery in the built environment and thereby preventing building collapse.

He said, “We’re also suggesting that the physical planning district offices should have appropriately registered professionals working at the district offices including mechanical and electrical engineers to handle projects.

“In recent times, we observed that unregistered developers were the cause of most collapse of buildings. And that’s why we’re advising that all developers should be registered with the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria and the Ministry of Physical Planning to be able to trace them in cases of collapse.”

Credit: The Eagle Online