Building collapse: Lagos recruits 200 building control officers

Towards providing effective monitoring of building construction works in the state and checking the rampant cases of building collapses, Lagos authorities have employed over 200 building environment professionals to increase the staff strength of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA).

As part of the induction programme, Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG) held a technical session with the agency’s staff at their headquarters in GRA, Ikeja.

Speaking at the forum, LASBCA General Manager, Mr. Dotun Lasoju, an engineer amplified the current mantra of LASBCA, zero tolerance for building collapse.

He described the collaboration between LASBCA and BCPG as a collective effort at promoting standard building construction in the state with the aim of putting to an end the frequent collapse of buildings in the near future and thereby make the building environment safe for the inhabitants.

President of the Guild, Mr. KunleAwobodu, a professional builder lauded the government for taking this proactive step. Awobodu, however, cautioned that the ongoing recruitment exercise should be fair and not be hijacked by opportunists, like in the past, so as not to defeat the original purpose of the exercise. He advised the newly recruited staff to be good ambassadors of their professional bodies and reciprocate government’s gesture of providing them employment by doing their duty diligently.

A past National Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers and one of the leaders of BCPG, Mr. SaliuLawal identified passion and integrity as the bulwark of professionalism.

“Once a person had passion for a duty, the percentage of success would always be high. Undergoing tutelage from role models or mentorship in a profession would chart a result-oriented course,” he said.