Lagos revokes building permits, orders revalidation

The Lagos State Government has revoked all existing building permits and ordered builders to reapply for validation to continue construction.

The Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on e-GIS and Urban Development, Dr Olajide Babatunde, announced this during a visit to the collapsed building site in Maryland, Ikeja, on Saturday.

Babatunde was accompanied by Mr Gbolahun Oki, the General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency, and some executive members.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that a building under construction collapsed on Thursday at 13 Wilson Mba Street, Arowojobe Estate, Maryland, Lagos, killing five workers.

He said, “All commencement certificates in Lagos are revoked effective immediately. This applies to everyone with a construction site, including those in the big five category.

“Return to the LASBCA office to revalidate that document. If you decide not to go for the revalidation of that documentation, we are going to seal that site.”

He expressed deep sorrow over the incident and emphasised that such occurrences should not happen.
Babatunde, who acknowledged the government’s responsibility in preventing building collapses, blamed property owners and developers for negligence and for violating building regulations.

He stressed the importance of obtaining a Certificate of Completion or Fitness for Habitation before occupying a building.

Babatunde added that the government would prosecute anyone found violating this rule.

He noted that the government had strict regulations regarding building construction and occupancy.

Babatunde said that buildings must be certified by LASBCA before habitation and that failure to comply is a criminal offence.

He disclosed that LASBCA would increase enforcement, including using private consultants to inspect buildings.
Babatunde said that the agency had taken steps to enforce building regulations, including issuing stop-work orders and sealing buildings.

He stated that the agency was still faced with some challenges due to limited resources and hostile developers.
He called on private professionals to collaborate with the government to strengthen building regulation enforcement in the state.