News
Lagos advocates willful compliance to physical planning development laws
The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has called on residents of Lagos to willfully comply with the state’s physical development laws in erecting their structures.
General Manager of LASBCA, Gbolahan Oki, made this appeal on Thursday during the agency’s state-wide roadshow and campaign on building regulations and control.
The aim of the road show, according to Oki, was to sensitize Lagos residents on the need to build in accordance with stipulated laws in order to prevent building collapse and avoidable loss of lives in the State.
He stated that the exercise which held simultaneously across all the 20 local government areas of the State was organized to sensitize Lagosians on what is required of them before the commencement of building as well as the necessary approvals needed.
Speaking on the theme of the sensitization exercise: “Compliance to Building Regulations – An Antidote to Building Collapse,” Oki pleaded with Lagosins to embrace wilful compliance with all laws guiding building construction.
He added that complying with building codes is cheaper than disregarding building and physical planning laws that puts property owners at the risk of losing their lives and properties when such buildings collapsed.
Oki urged Lagos residents to consult building professionals, obtain a development permit, and make use of quality materials for construction works, saying that this would curb incessant building collapse in the State.
The General Manager explained that sealing off buildings or demolishng structures are usually the last options the state government wanted to explore, assuring that there would be no need for sealing buildings or pulling structures down if residents embraced wilful compliance and follow all laid down rules and regulations.
Speaking at his Palace in Ikorodu, the Adegboruwa of Igbogbo kingdom, HRM Oba Abdul Semiu Orimadegun Kasali, lauded the concept of bringing the awareness campaign closer to the grassroots, adding that the rally would go a long way in educating the residents on building regulations and their application.
Oba Adegboruwa emphasized the need for effective synergy between all relevant stakeholders, advising the State Government to conduct more sensitization efforts that would enable people distinguish between the services of Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) and Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), stressing that there seemed to be misconceptions about the roles of the two agencies.
He suggested that the State Government should develop a template that explicitly explained the responsibilities of each concerned agency and their roles in building regulations.
The traditional ruler promised to get the template printed in banner format and erect it in the palace for everyone to see, enabling them to acquire more knowledge on building regulations and control.
The Chief Whip of the Professional Carpenter and Furniture Association in Ikorodu Branch, Mr. Ajagunna Olusoji Dada, commended the State Government and the Management of LASBCA for organizing the programme, stating that it would reduce building collapse in the State.
He advised the residents to engage the services of qualified carpenters and other artisans for their building projects.
