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The Lagos State Government has revoked all existing building permits, requiring builders to reapply for validation to continue their construction projects. This directive was announced by Dr. Olajide Babatunde, Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on e-GIS and Urban Development, during a visit to a collapsed building site in Maryland, Ikeja.
Accompanied by Mr. Gbolahun Oki, General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Babatunde addressed the tragic incident where a building under construction collapsed on Thursday, killing five workers.
“All commencement certificates in Lagos are revoked effective immediately. This applies to everyone with a construction site, including those in the big five category,” Babatunde stated. Builders are required to return to the LASBCA office for document revalidation, with the threat of site closure for non-compliance.
Babatunde expressed deep sorrow over the incident, emphasizing that such occurrences are unacceptable and underscoring the government’s responsibility in preventing building collapses. He pointed to negligence and violations of building regulations by property owners and developers as contributing factors.
He stressed the importance of obtaining a Certificate of Completion or Fitness for Habitation before occupying a building and warned of prosecution for any violations. Babatunde reiterated that LASBCA certification is mandatory for all buildings before habitation, and non-compliance constitutes a criminal offense.
To enhance enforcement, LASBCA will increase its efforts, including utilizing private consultants for building inspections. Despite challenges such as limited resources and opposition from developers, Babatunde called for collaboration with private professionals to strengthen building regulation enforcement in Lagos State.
