By Funke Cole
To say that the spate of building within Lagos metropolis and its environs is worrisome is certainly stating the obvious. From available information, Lagos State has witnessed more building collapse than any other part of the country.
This can be attributed to a combination of factors — from negligence by regulatory agencies who should monitor and enforce the building codes with the strictest terms but choose to look the other way, to the result of builders and contractors cutting corners by using inferior materials, flouting given parameters and guidelines set by the authorities, or sheer act of wickedness on the part of the builders all in their quest for profit maximisation to the detriment of safety, health and environmental considerations.
It is however instructive to note that in spite of all these, the state government has not rested on its oars in ensuring that sanity returns to the built and construction environment in Lagos. Following the rapidity of building collapse in the state, the government commissioned the Lagos State Building and Control Agency (LABSCA) in 2012 after the highest number of 19 collapses. And since then, the recorded collapses in Lagos have reduced significantly.
Through its building regulatory system, the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Agency and its sister agency LABSCA have a vision to ensure that buildings in the state are designed, constructed and maintained to high safety standards to avoid loss of lives and properties, as well as aim to achieve zero percent building collapse.
There are also extant laws, which set store on the ideal and idea of proper building construction, including the Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law 2019 CAP U2 Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Regulations, 2019 and the Lagos State Physical Planning Law 2005. The Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law 2019 CAP U2 Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Regulations, 2019 addresses requirements for intentions of building a development, and what should be done.
However as a forward thinking measure, the state government has rolled out a new regulatory initiative to address the current inadequacies in the built environment codenamed CAP. At the official unveiling of the Certified Accreditors Programme (CAP), on Monday, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu noted that it is a transformative model designed to foster a safer, more compliant and sustainable urban planning in Lagos. The initiative, aimed at ensuring strict compliance to standard practices in building construction, was unveiled before a large gathering of stakeholders in public and private sectors.
CAP is a stakeholder-driven intervention proposed as part of recommendations by a panel set up by the governor in 2021 to advise the state government on practical steps to address incidents of building collapse and attendant loss of lives. The recommendation stressed the need for a strategic coordination and synergy between the government and private sector professionals for a comprehensive supervision of building construction in Lagos.
Upon the governor’s approval, LASBCA screened and selected private sector professionals and consulting firms that will act on behalf of the government as certified accreditors. They will complement the activities of government’s regulatory agencies in screening of structural drawings, conduct stage inspections and monitoring compliance to building codes throughout construction stages.
Sanwo-Olu approved and inducted 111 certified accreditors at the event, comprising consultants and monitoring officers. He said that the occasion marked ‘a pivotal moment’ in his administration’s journey towards a ensuring safer and more prosperous city, stressing that the steps would a range of socio-economic benefits that will enhance the quality of life for all Lagos residents. The primary objective of the initiative, the governor said, is to ensure the safety of buildings. Sanwo-Olu said that, by effectively reducing the risk of building collapses, the state would not only protect lives and property but would also foster a sense of security upon which a society builds its prosperity.
He said: ‘We mark a pivotal moment in our journey towards a safer and more prosperous Lagos, as we officially launch the Certified Accreditors’ Programme. This initiative reflects on the importance of promoting safe and standard practices in the built environment for the socio-economic wellbeing of our State. This initiative is not merely a regulatory measure; it is a transformative step that will help us foster a safer, more compliant and sustainable Lagos.
‘The primary objective of this programme is to ensure the safety of our buildings. If we effectively reduce the risk of building collapses, we not only protect lives and property but also foster a sense of security that is vital for any thriving community. By incorporating private sector expertise into our regulatory framework, we are taking significant strides towards realising a range of socio-economic benefits that will enhance the quality of life for all Lagosians.
‘As one of Africa’s fastest-growing cities, Lagos faces immense pressure to rapidly develop its infrastructure. The Certified Accreditors’ Programme will promote sustainable development by ensuring that construction activities align with established safety standards. This commitment to sustainability safeguards our environment for future generations, ensuring that growth does not come at the expense of our planet’.
Sanwo-Olu assured that the initiative was not created to disrupt the businesses of investors and private developers; rather, the governor said the initiative would safeguard investment made into building construction. The governor said that the accreditors’ programme would be the third eye for the government to properly monitor the built environment and rid the sector of substandard developments.
Sanwo-Olu urged property developers, structural engineers, homeowners, architects and other stakeholders in the sector to collaborate in upholding the highest standards of integrity and compliance, stressing that the success of the initiative depended on the level of commitment put forward by stakeholders to ensure construction activities align with safety regulations.
‘I encourage every member of the public to remain vigilant and report any case of substandard construction or unauthorised developments to the relevant authorities, so that the government can eliminate the risks associated with building collapses and unplanned developments from our city’, he said.
Special Adviser to the Governor on e-GIS and Urban Development, Dr. Olajide Babatunde said that the initiative would further strengthen ease of doing business in Lagos, noting that the programme was encapsulated in the THEMES+ vision of the Sanwo-Olu administration.
To further address the menace of building collapses, the state government disclosed that it would be rolling out Comprehensive Structural Investigation Programme, a non-disruptive test that will be carried out on all buildings in Lagos. This, Babatunde said, will be done every five years to ensure safety of lives and properties.
On his part, LASBCA General Manager, Engr. Gbolahan Oki said that those engaged in the private sector possessed requisite experience and qualifications that would complement public regulatory actions in order to check substandard practices in the built environment.
‘CAP is yet another far-reaching reform introduced by the Sanwo-Olu administration in the building sector aimed at achieving significant decline in the incident of building collapse in the State. This programme launched today will help LASBCA serve the people more effectively, while enhancing excellence in building control practices’, he said.
In the view of experts, CAP, surely comes across as the much expected antidote to address the incessant cases of building collapse because of the structure and composition of the parties involved.
In a manner of speaking, many hold the view — and very strongly too — that Sanwo-Olu’s CAP will cap it all and literally put an end to the menace of building collapse in the Centre of Excellence, and notably one of the mega cities in the globe!