Non-enforcement Of State Laws, Lack Of Collaboration Responsible For Recurring Building Collapse In Lagos - BCPG

Building Collapse

•  Says Construction Turns All-comers Affair, Industry Bedeviled By Quacks

By Femi Esan

The chairman, Building Collapse Prevention Guide (BCPG), Lagos state chapter, Lt.Col. Jide Olayinka (rtd) has attributed the recurring building collapse in Lagos to non-enforcement of state Laws and poor collaboration among concerned bodies in the state.

He made this known during a virtual interactive session with the Housing Development Programme on AIT on Tuesday.

Reacting to the recent building collapse at 24, Ibadan Street, Off Muritala Mohammed Way, Ebute-Metta, Lagos, Olayinka described the incident as unfortunate, saying the building and many others were marked for demolition having failed integrity test almost a year ago but with no action taken to facilitate the demolition process. 

He added by saying: “in a situation where a building has failed integrity test, the best thing to do is vacate such building within the time-frame given to avoid casualties while the building is demolished in a controlled manner. That is what we call controlled demolition. In other words, all security and safety measures must have been put in place, with notice sent out and the awareness of what’s going to happen concerning the controlled demolition is made available to the neighbourhood.”

Responding to issues boarding on prosecution of defaulters, Olayinka asserted that non of the erring developers or home owners trapped in building collapse have been prosecuted.

He said: “To the best of my knowledge, no defaulter has been prosecuted for building collapse in Lagos state. If they have any in their record that has been prosecuted, we will be glad to have it and we are interested in attending the proceedings of the prosecution of such offenders. It was recently that the Lagos state government mentioned that some of the officials involved in recent building collapse were going to be prosecuted. If it’s done, it will serve as deterrent to others.”

Speaking on collaboration with relevant bodies, he condemned the attitude of the regulatory agencies, noting that many of them fail to supply BCPG with necessary documents needed to checkmate or validate construction approvals on sites.

AIHS 2022

“We have made it known to the various authorities that the coverage of BCPG is wider and higher than that of the ministry. So, in a situation whereby the BCPG is effectively engaged in collaboration to identify all these sites that are defect in construction and site management, all these things are factors. And we have made an official demand to concerned ministry, departments and agencies to provide us with various modalities of what to look out during an investigation visit to construction sites.

“More often, if we go to a particular department, they will tell you it’s the responsibility of another department and if you request for documents as a prove to challenge people on site, those documents are not usually made available. These are the various shortcomings that we have. And greater number of them, when they talk, it will be very difficult to ascertain the authenticity of their claims”, Olayinka revealed.

He noted that government enforcement should be backed up by other professional forces, who are capable of identifying lapses and threats on construction sites.

He also berated the nonchalant attitude of citizens who oftentimes turn deaf ears to eviction notices especially from buildings considered to have failed integrity test, adding that it would have been another story entirely for occupants of the Ebute-Metta collapsed building if they had vacated the premise upon notice issued to them in November 2021, as reported.

Also, the National President of BCPG, Mr Eddy Atumonyogo, who was represented by Dr. Bright Ukponu, noted that the construction industry has been turned to an all-comers Affair, expressing disappointment over the increased number of quacks in the industry, which according to him are cogs on the wheel of the industry’s progress.

He said the BCPG which comprises of the seven professional bodies in the built industry, is doing all it could to ensure a society free from building collapse.

Ukponu noted that the organization, though not backed by law, has initiated various policies, suggestions and advised government on what to do to get the country rid of the ugly trend of building collapse. 

He added that BCPG will continue to make concerted effort by reinforcing relevant laws to ensure that only professionals handle construction projects in the country.

“We have noted with dismay the way construction is handled especially in Lagos. It has become an all-commerce affairs, which is very terrible. Our message at BCPG is for the government to enforce relevant laws so that professionals can handle all building projects”, Ukponu said.