Lekki Gardens: Defective buildings to be demolished – Ambode

Occupants of buildings in Lekki Gardens have been urged to vacate the premises. The Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, 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 on Tuesday, said the incident which claimed 34 lives and left several others injured was “one building collapse too many”.

The Governor who commiserated with those who suffered one loss or the other or an injury as a result of the building collapse said that since the incident, the state government had 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.

The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Wasiu Anifowose also 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.

Ambode also 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 would be demolished.

He said that the government would 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 would be made public soon.

“The State Government will undertake a stability test on all other buildings constructed by the developer, 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 over-development on the site,” he said.

He said since the unfortunate incident the state government had taken several steps to stem the tide of building collapse, saying that his administration was determined not to fail in the responsibility of ensuring the safety of lives and property of its citizens.

“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.

In this regard, Ambode also revealed that a five-man committee to examine the Urban and Regional Planning Law of the state as it affected the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA).

The Committee is to be chaired by 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.

Ambode also charged the committee to examine the operations of LASBCA and make recommendations for changes that would ensure effective service delivery, recommend organisational 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 would enhance the efficient functioning of the two organisations.

He gave the committee four weeks to submit its report.

“Finally, let me reiterate that Lagos is open to business for those who are willing to 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”, Ambode said.

Speaking to journalists at the site of the collapsed building, Anifowose said Governor Ambode and his team were at the site to personally examine the level of damage and determine how best to prevent a recurrence.