Defective Lekki Gardens buildings in Lagos to be demolished - Gov. Ambode...urges occupants to vacate premises
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Tuesday directed that stability test be conducted on all building constructed by the Lekki Gardens to ascertain their structural integrity, saying that any building found to be defective will be demolished.
The
Governor who addressed Government House Correspondents at the Lagos House,
Ikeja, shortly after inspecting the site of the collapsed building which was
under construction by the Lekki Gardens, said the incident which claimed 34
lives and left several others injured was “one building collapse too many”.
He
said since the unfortunate incident the state government has taken several steps
to stem the tide of building collapse, saying that his administration is
determined not to fail in the responsibility of ensuring the safety of lives
and property of its citizens.
“The
State Government will undertake a stability test on all other buildings
constructed by the Developer in the State, whether occupied or not, to
ascertain their structural stability. The Developer will pay the cost of the
tests. Any building found to be defective
would be demolished. For those that pass
the integrity test the developer will pay a penalty for any overdevelopment on
the site,” he said.
Governor
Ambode who commiserated with those who suffered loss and injury as a result of
the building collapse said since the incident, the state government has ordered
the immediate sealing of the construction site and cessation of further
construction, co-ordinated emergency rescue of all injured victims and
treatment at its hospitals, prosecution of owners of the collapsed building as
well as dismissal of some government officials.
He
said that the government going forward will carry out an audit of all
structures in the state to ascertain those with planning approval or not and
evaluate the physical development against the approved building plans, saying
that details of the plan will be made public soon.
“I want to
assure you that there will no longer be any sacred cows. If there is failure of
duty, there will be sanctions.
“I also want
to seize this opportunity to assure Lagosians that the State Government will do
everything within its powers to check the excesses of Developers who flout its
regulations and will restore efficiency and confidence in the building control
and supervision process,” the Governor said.
To this end,
Governor Ambode also revealed that a five man committee to examine the Urban
and Regional Planning Law of the State as it affects the Lagos State Building
Control Agency (LASBCA).
The
Committee is to be chaired by TPL (Dr) Moses Olubunmi Ajayi, a past President
of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners and Association of Professional
Bodies of Nigeria, while members include Engineer Ore Fadayomi, President of
the Nigerian Institute of Structural engineers, Architect (Mrs) Yetunde O.
Ajayi, a retired Permanent Secretary, General Manager of Lagos State Planning
Authority(LASSPA) and Secretary of Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA)
as Secretary of the Committee.
Governor
Ambode also charged the committee to examine the operations of LASBCA and make
recommendations for changes that will ensure effective service delivery, recommend
organizational re-structure and appropriate manpower for effective operation of
LASBCA, study the legal and operational issues affecting the functioning of the
Materials Testing Laboratory and other matters that will enhance the efficient
functioning of the two organizations.
He
gave the committee four weeks to submit its report.
“Finally,
let me reiterate that Lagos is open to business for those who must comply with
the State laws and regulations in order to prosper. Our main concern is to
continue to improve on the ease of doing business and uphold the Rule of Law at
all times. Those who choose non-compliance and defiance will henceforth face
the full weight of the law without fear or favour”, Governor Ambode said.
Speaking
to journalists at the site of the collapsed building, the Commissioner for
Physical Planning and Urban Development, Wasiu Anifowose, said Governor Ambode
and his team were at the site to personally examine the level of damage and the
determine how best to prevent a reoccurrence going forward.
He
disclosed that integrity test would be conducted on all the structures erected
by Lekki Gardens in the area, and advised occupiers of other structures
constructed by Lekki Gardens to vacate the buildings immediately.
Anifowose
said the site of the collapsed structure had been condoned off and that
government would take appropriate steps after the conclusion of investigation
by the police.
“In
the best interest of the occupiers of the other structures, their lives are
very important to us as a government and we are appealing to them to vacate the
buildings immediately until investigations are completed.
“The
gentleman behind Lekki Gardens got approval for ground, first, second and third
floors, but after doing the roofing, he removed it and added additional two
floors which caused the building to collapse. So, we have to carry out
integrity test on the other structures and the cost implication for present
occupiers of the other structures to vacate the buildings would be borne by the
developer,” Anifowose said.
SIGNED
HABIB ARUNA
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
MARCH 15, 2016
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