LASBCA warns against construction without permit

The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has reiterated government’s commitment to zero tolerance on distressed, abandoned structures and construction without building permit in the State.

The General Manager of the agency, Engr. Lekan Shodeinde said this on Thursday during the Agency’s enlightenment and sensitization campaign as part of the agency’s safety in Lagos Island area of the State.

Shodehinde hinted that the rains  were here and that  distressed buildings were prone to collapse when a part of the building was not supported with strong column.

He emphasized that the present administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was aimed at achieving zero tolerance to incidences of buildings collapse, abandoned building, illegal developments, and non – conforming developments, among others, with a view to ensuring better physical environment for sustainable development.

“Sustainable physical development requires the participation of every Lagosians, whose interests are affected and where co-operations are necessary for successful implementation of the existing laws and regulations,” he said.

He emphasized that no responsible government would watch her citizen die due to avoidable carelessness without taking precautionary measure to stop it.

“LASBCA will come down hard with the Law on all recalcitrant defaulters who decide to break government seal, illegal contravention of existing buildings for new uses, construction of new buildings without any form of building approval, non-conformity to building strategies, among others,” he said.

According to Shodeinde, people had shown disregard for the state’s laws on building construction in the past which the resultant effects were worrisome.

Head of Enlightenment Department of the Agency, Mrs Taiwo Ajose said that “the spate of collapse in the past years is a re-awakening to the fact that both the government and the people need to collaborate more than ever not only to stem building collapse, but to also ensure that people build in compliance with physical planning laws.”

“We have lost so much as a state and as a nation to building collapse. As a committed and responsive administration, we are leaving nothing to chance towards ensuring that we put an end to this problem,” she added.

Chairman of the Lagos Island Local Council, represented by the Vice Chairman, Waheed Bashorun, however, appealed to all Lagosians to comply with the government’s law to avoid any form of embarrassment from law enforcement officers.