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, Olajide Babatunde, said this during a visit to the collapsed building site in Maryland, Ikeja, on Saturday.

Mr Babatunde was accompanied by Gbolahun Oki, the general manager, Lagos State Building Collapse Agency (LASBCA), and some executive members.

He said, “All commencement certifications 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.’’

A building under construction collapsed on Thursday at 13, Wilson Mba Street, Arowojobe Estate, Maryland, Lagos, killing five workers.

Mr Babatunde, who acknowledged the government’s responsibility in preventing building collapse, 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.

Mr Babatunde added that the government would prosecute anyone violating the rule, stating that the government had strict regulations regarding building construction and occupancy.

He said buildings must be certified by LASBCA before habitation, and failure to comply is a criminal offence, noting that the agency would increase enforcement, including using private consultants to inspect buildings.

Mr Babatunde said the agency had taken steps to enforce building regulations, including issuing stop-work orders and sealing buildings.

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

The general manager of LASBCA, Gbolahun Oki, outlined the agency’s response to the recent building collapse and its plans for preventing future incidents.

Mr Oki said LASBCA would conduct a comprehensive inspection of buildings in the affected estate, marking and demolishing those deemed unsafe.

He explained that the area affected by the collapse had poor soil conditions, emphasising the need for rigorous building inspections and approvals.

 Mr Oki said the agency would strictly enforce construction hours (7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.) and prohibit on-site sleeping to improve worker safety.

He said the agency would expand its capacity through a public-private partnership to enhance building control and inspection.

(NAN)