Residents must make conscious efforts to avert building collapse – LASG

The Lagos State Government has charged residents of the State to make conscious efforts to avert incessant building collapse in the state.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Communities and Communication, Mr Kehinde Bamigbetan said it was imperative for all residents to comply with all state government laws and order, especially in respect of building construction so as to avert the building collapse.

He spoke during an interactive session organized by the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs for the Community Development Committees (CDCs), Community Development Associations (CDAs) and other stakeholders across the State at Ibeju- Lekki Local Government Secretariat.

Bamigbetan said the state government respected the effort of the stakeholders in the development of their communities and that government was ready to work with them in order to provide more infrastructure to the citizens of the State.

He said government was ready to put an end to the incessant building collapse and criminality across the State.

Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Community Affairs, Alhaji Tajudeen Quadri, said the interactive session was part of the present administration’s reform to bring development to the urban growth in the State.

He, however, stated that government would not relent in reckoning with the communities, saying that was why there is good innovation in the way things were being done now by involving the CDCs and CDAs in government policies.

Sole Administrator, Ibeju-Lekki Local Government, Surakat Idogun commended the state government for the interactive session which he said was in line with the inclusive governance of the state government’s policies and implementing the government’s plans and programmes as it affected the people at the community level.

He, however, implored all CDAs and CDCs to avail themselves the benefits of the interactive session and replicate it in their respective communities.

The Director, Inspectorate and Building Control, Lagos State Building Control Agency, Engr. Oyewale Joseph said the collapsed of buildings in the State were due to non-compliant of the residents in engaging professionals in the construction of their buildings.

“We should ensure that we make use of the professionals in handling our projects and ensure that Lagos State Building Control Agency was duly carried along in all the building construction across the State,’’ he said.

Oyewale reiterated that the major cause of building collapse is not only the non-usage of appropriate building materials, but that builders would get approval for one or two-storey building only to add more floors to it.

Speaking on behalf of the Chairman, Lagos State Taskforce, DSP Wilson Alaba implored CDAs and other community leaders to ensure that they cooperated with all enforcement agencies in the State so as to ensure a safe and secured State.

He noted that the Agency was established to bring sanity to the State and also eradicate all sorts of criminality and demolition of illegal structures in the communities so as to ensure harmony.