Fashola orders prosecution of owners of collapsed buildings

Posted by admin Governors, Lagos, Latest Politics, State News Thursday, July 21st, 2011

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, has directed immediate arrest and prosecution of owners of collapsed buildings in the state.

He also directed Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development to commence immediate review of current building laws to restore sanity to the building sector.

The state Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Olutoyin Ayinde, who disclosed these, Thursday, while briefing newsmen, said the measures became necessary to bring owners of such buildings to justice without delay.

He said the governor was worried over the incessant collapse of buildings as well as loss of lives in the state, and had ordered that a holistic measure was needed to checkmate the trend.

Ayinde said existing building laws would be reviewed at a retreat slated for next month, to be attended by stakeholders and experts and recommendations sent to the executive for approval.

Ayinde said the state executive council had issued a warning that anyone found culpable of collapsed building must never be allowed to go unpunished to serve as deterrent to others.

The commissioner, who expressed worry over the recent collapsed buildings, which claimed many lives, noted that 34 buildings had so far been sealed off on Lagos Island to save residents from further disasters.

He explained that out of the 645 buildings marked for demolition, 143 were listed for renovation due to the lack of strength of the buildings.

Ayinde said: “Because Lagos land is not expanding, we are reviewing some of our laws. The state government already has a prototype development plan for the new Lagos that will soon be unveiled.

“The governor had approved the building of a block of 12 unit of accommodation that would accommodate more people per unit area like we have in Singapore.”

Ayinde noted that the state government was planning to reduce time for building approval by either returning to former operation 30-30 or any other workable measures.

-Vanguardwp_posts