Agency Seeks Residents’ Support To Avert Building Collapse

The Lagos State Building
Control Agency (LASBCA) has called on Lagos residents to collaborate with the agency to avert building collapses during the rainy season.
The General Manager of the agency, Mrs Animashaun-Odunayo, made the call recently while addressing a town hall meeting in Ikorodu, near Lagos.
The meeting was organised by LASBCA in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.
Building collapse is common in Lagos State, where there have been more than 130 recorded cases in the past six years.
The event was tagged: “Prevention of Building Collapse and the Importance of Construction Stage Inspections and Certification”.
It was organised to sensitise stakeholders in Ikorodu on the need to adhere to standard building practices.
“The rainy season is coming; we don’t want to hear of building collapse. I want to implore you to help us to help you.
“We believe that we can all work together to achieve one goal – to make sure that there are no cases of building collapse; no loss of lives and to make sure that we are all living in safe environments.
“Sometimes we say I don’t have a building; it doesn’t concern me. But what about when something happens when you are hiding under a roof and then something happens.
“So that’s the reason we say it’s the work of everybody, not the agency alone.
“When you see any distressed building please report to us.
“We will take action immediately and we will make sure that if it is a dangerous structure, we get people out of the place before the building collapses.”
She cautioned contractors and artisans in the building industry to desist from working without project boards.
“A project board must tell us if it is a residential or a commercial building.
“If it is not there, we will believe that it’s a dubious job and then we will definitely come there to stop the work, she stated.
The Chairman of  Ikorodu Local Government, Mr Seriff Anipole, commended the agency for its efforts, saying “this will benefit us all because in the past, so many cases of building collapse had befallen us.
“So, don’t patronise quacks because this will curtail cases of building collapse.
“Instead, patronise registered experts so that if anything goes wrong they will be held responsible,” he advised.
Chairman, Community Development Association of the Ikorodu North Local Government Area, Mr Laja Martins, urged the Lagos State Government to establish “Builders’ Supermarket“ to checkmate the influx of sub-standard building materials.
LASBCA was established was established to ensure adherence to minimum standards in building construction and renovation in Lagos State.
In attendance at the event were representatives of various associations, including the Nigeria Welders Association, Ikorodu Division; Block Moulders Association, Ifelodun Chapter, among others.