Building collapse: Lagos demands developer’s and others’ arrests
The developer and construction workers of the seven-story building that fell along Oba Abiodun Oniru Road in the state’s Iru/Victoria Island region have been ordered detained by the Lagos State Government.
Dr. Idris Salako, the commissioner for physical planning and urban development, made this known when he visited the building collapse scene on Sunday.
The Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development stated this in a statement.
“The Commissioner said the developer and professionals on the project were culpable for their disdain for the planning regulations of the state, having started construction without a valid Planning Permit and disobeying official warnings against continuing the development activities,” the statement said in part.
“He emphasized that under no circumstances should anyone interpret the completion of an Application for Permit through the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority as a ticket to begin construction as there must be a valid Planning Permit from the aforementioned agency, in addition to a letter of Authorization, stage inspection at every stage, and certification by the Lagos State Building Control Agency to ensure that construction works were carried out in compliance with the law,”
“He indicated that the police had launched a manhunt for the developer and all professionals involved in the project, such as architects, builders, or engineers who work on the project, while the State Government was looking into the circumstances behind the collapse.
“Salako expressed concern with the pace of disregard for law and order by actors in the built sector, stressing that the State Government was determined to restore sanity and orderliness to the sector, where it had declared incidents of building collapse intolerable.
“He enjoined Lagosians to join hands with the government in maintaining vigilance in the built environment of the state by reporting any untoward development in their vicinity through any of the Ministry or State Government communication channels, particularly the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and the Lagos State Building Control Agency.”
The building, which was under construction, collapsed in the early hours of Sunday, killing two people so far.
