The Lagos State Government has revoked all existing building permits and mandated builders to reapply for validation to continue construction.
The Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on e-GIS and Urban Development, Dr. Olajide Babatunde, disclosed the government’s decision during a visit to the site of a building in Maryland, Ikeja, on Saturday.
Five persons, identified as construction workers, died in the collapsed building on Thursday.
Babatunde was accompanied by the General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Gbolahun Oki and other officials.
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.”
The special adviser urged all companies and individuals engaged in construction of buildings in the state to visit LASBCA to revalidate their permits.
He warned that defaulters would be heavily sanctioned.
He said, ““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.’’
Babatunde emphasised the government’s commitment to preventing such tragedies, blaming negligence and regulatory violations by property owners and developers.
He underscored the necessity of obtaining a Certificate of Completion or Fitness for Habitation before occupying any building, stressing that non-compliance would be treated as a criminal offence.
To enhance enforcement, Dr. Babatunde revealed plans to involve private consultants in building inspections.
He noted the challenges faced by LASBCA, including limited resources and resistance from developers, and called for collaboration with private professionals to strengthen regulatory enforcement.
Gbolahun Oki, LASBCA’s General Manager, outlined the agency’s response to the collapse and future prevention strategies.
He announced comprehensive inspections in the affected estate and plans to demolish unsafe structures.
Oki highlighted the poor soil conditions in the collapse area, emphasising the need for rigorous inspections and approvals.
“All construction sites must have a full team of professionals, including an architect, structural engineer, electrical and mechanical engineers, and a builder, to ensure adherence to building codes,” Oki said.
He also announced stricter enforcement of construction hours (7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.) and a prohibition on on-site sleeping to improve worker safety.
Oki revealed that LASBCA plans to expand its capacity through public-private partnerships to enhance building control and inspection.
Florence Agbaye, Director of Inspectorate and Quality Control in the Ikeja Division, noted ongoing challenges, including developers continuing work illegally despite notices and site seals.
She cited the collapsed building as a case in point, highlighting the need for mandatory stage inspections by LASBCA.
