In order to combat the problem of building collapse, the Lagos State Government has completed plans to coordinate efforts with the private sector through the Office of Urban Development and Lagos State Building Control Agency.
With the agreement named the “Accredited Certifiers Programme,” state construction laws will be better monitored and enforced by government personnel.
The Accredited Certifiers Program was recommended by the government white paper on the report of the Lagos State Tribunal regarding the building collapse on 44 (B, C, D), Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos. Dr. Olajide Babatunde, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Electronic Geographical Information System and Urban Development, disclosed this in Lagos. He stated that the report called for a more robust public-private sector synergy that would help boost enforcement exercise in terms of monitoring and inspection of all actively constructed buildings in the state.
Babatunde claims that the partnership’s primary goal is to prevent building collapses in the state by closely monitoring and inspecting all active development, as the government is unable to accomplish this task on its own.
“An initiative that will make the building process seamless and more effective is the synergy with the private sectors, as recommended by the white paper report. These synergies will enhance a better service delivery in some specific aspects, such as monitoring of the built environment, screening of drawings and inspection of projects above 6 floors, and complementary roles for stage certification of projects above 6 floors.”
“Lagos is endowed with a high number of built environment professionals who are eager to contribute their knowledge and abilities to ensure that the state’s buildings are developed in accordance with international standards.”
Olajide further emphasized that in order to ensure the Accredited Certifiers Programme launches smoothly, separate orientation seminars would be held for the consortium that was selected as well as for individual experts who satisfied the requirements to become accredited certifiers.
The only body enforcing building development in the state, according to Shodeinde Nurudeen, Permanent Secretary of the Office of Urban Development, is the LASBCA.
He further stated that other state agencies and parastatals need to communicate with LASBCA in order to lessen or do away with the multitude of enforcement officers in the construction industry.
To dispel the myth that there will be multiple inspections, he stated that LASBCA is the single agency/parastatal of the state government that is in charge of monitoring and enforcing the state’s building regulations. All other agencies/parastatals are free to carry out their core duties, but LASBCA will serve as the exclusive enforcer.
Speaking with reporters in his office, Gbolahan Oki, the general manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency, reaffirmed that the organization would not support the construction of buildings illegally anywhere in the state and that it was prepared to demolish any structures built without the necessary permits.
In response to the allegation that certain state master plans had been distorted, he stated that the government would not be reluctant to demolish any buildings placed on such sites designated for the public benefit because breaking the law is never an acceptable justification.
“Before finalizing the purchase agreements, developers and landowners should always crosscheck titles of property they seek to purchase with the state land registry,” he suggested.