LAGOS MOVES TO STEM BUILDING COLLAPSE

The Lagos State government has moved to stem the incessant building collapse in the state, saying that it would not hesitate to demolish defective buildings in any part of the state.

The government said it was worried over frequent collapse of buildings and expressed the desire and determination to prevent further loss of lives and property through preventable collapse of buildings in any part of the state.
According to the Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Opeyemi Bamidele, some estates built by Alhaji Lateef Jakande were on the verge of collapse as well as some building along Adeniji- Adele road, Lagos Island.
He appealed to landlords as well as residents whose buildings had been declared structurally defective to immediately relocate and bring same to the attention of the state government through the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.

He reminded members of the public that owners of any building that collapse in the state would forfeit such landed property to the state as provided by the law.

"To prevent this and importantly to guide against loss of lives and property, owners of structurally defective buildings should endeavour to contact the state government or engage the professional services of structural engineering consultants for clarification where in doubt,'' he said.

Bamidele called on members of the public to report cases of defective buildings in their neighborhood to the state government for appropriate action, adding that government does not want a situation where people will wait till their buildings collapse, resulting in loss of lives and property.