The Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG) is seeking the enforcement of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) Regulations on building collapse.
The demand is hinged on the frequent cases of collapsed buildings in the metropolis without proper investigation to unravel the causes.
In a statement signed by the Coordinator, BCPG Lekki Cell, Arc Wunmi Agbaje; and the General Secretary, Godfrey C. Godfrey, the group condemned lack of official investigation on plethora of recent collapsed buildings in Lekki, Lagos.
Lack of official investigation of collapsed buildings, the group said portended danger and reoccurrence.
The group listed recent cases of collapsed buildings in the state in which official investigations were never carried out.
The BCDG pointed out that unravelling the causes of a building collapse and implementing the recommendations would help prevent future building collapse of similar nature.
Moreover, it explained that the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law of 2010 required an investigation of a collapsed building before the land can be confiscated by the government.
The group said that the recent cases of building collapse required urgent need to investigate the causes.
The statement called on the Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to allow the relevance of the LASBCA Regulations to prevail.
“Section 25 of the regulations stipulates that:
(1) Any developer, agent, occupier of any collapsed structure, shall, within twenty-four (24) hours of such collapse report to the nearest office of the agency or the nearest police station stating –
(a) the cause(s) of such collapse;
(b) the extent of damage to the adjourning properties;
(c) injury to person(s); and
(d) the fatality.
(2) Any developer or occupier of any collapsed structure, who fails to comply with sub-regulation (1) of this Regulation, commits an offence.
(3) The agency shall immediately, on detecting or being informed of such collapse, cordon off the site for safety precaution and further investigation,” they said.
“In the light of the foregoing, we appeal to the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to ensure that the relevant aspects of the laws of the state that can help reduce the incessant collapse of buildings and save lives are implemented,” the group said.
They hinted that members of BCPG Lekki Cell have prepared to embark on a voluntary exercise to find out the current state / use of the collapsed building lands that ought to have been forfeited to the government
“We are going to tour round Lekki Peninsular to find out the current state / use of the collapsed building lands that ought to have been forfeited to the government. Of course, the outcome will be made known to the public.”
“Courageous professionals with unquestionable integrity who are willing to witness this exercise should not hesitate to reach out to us,” they said.
“Transformation of Lekki Peninsular from political detention camp to hub of magnificent housing estates is heartwarming. We are proud of the massive developments and huge investments.
“Developers should be applauded for this great achievement. However, what is worth doing at all is worth doing well,” they said.
The group urged developers to use quality materials and engage competent professionals for their building projects in order to safeguard and preserve their investments for future generations’ use.
Buildings, when constructed to standards, the group said could become an enduring legacy, monumental, lasting for ages.
“The need to ensure that housing development is not meant for every Tom, Dick and Harry cannot be overemphasised. The real estate sector needs to be well regulated.
“Those who want to engage in the housing business should endeavour to join the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria ( REDAN) for induction and training in the ethics and acceptable practices of housing business,” the group said.
The group urged that the recent cases of building collapse required urgent need to investigate the causes.
Building Collapse Prevention Guild is a coalition of professionals, like minds driven by unalloyed passion for standard building construction.
Citing instances of prevalent of structural failures, the group said:”On Tuesday, January 28, 2025, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency ( LASEMA) announced the collapse of a two-storey building under construction at the gated Northern Foreshore Estate, Off Chevron Drive, Lekki, Lagos State, leading to the death of two persons.
“On the same day, a three- storey building under construction collapsed at Mega Mall Estate, Mobil Road, Inikpa, Ikota, Lekki, killing 2 persons, according to the National Emergency Management Agency ( NEMA).
“Rescue operations with the aid of heavy-duty plant and equipment dismantled and compressed the carcas, thereby destroying part of evidence required for investigations.”
“On Wednesday, March 5, 2025, a four-storey building under construction collapsed at Oriwu Street, Lekki Phase One, resulting in the deaths of four persons while many people were injured.
“Members of the BCPG Lekki Cell, who paid a technical visit to the site, based on empirical observation and information garnered on the grapevine, saw the urgent need to investigate this collapsed building.
“However, the hope of getting the government to investigate this collapse might be dim drawing from the experience of the neighbouring BCPG Iru- Victoria Island Cell when a nine – storey building under construction collapsed at Prince Idowu Abiodun Road, Oniru, Victoria Island Extension on Sunday, September 9, 2022.
“Four persons were killed in that calamitous building collapse. All documented efforts by the BCPG to ensure that the collapsed building was investigated by the government did not yield success.
“A similar perturbing experience was encountered in that same local government area when a five-storey building under construction collapsed at 4.25 pm on Monday, November 4, 2013, within the premises of Iru- Victoria Island Eti Osa Local Council Development Area along Muri Okunola Street.
“At a meeting held with the then chairman of the local government, Hon. Abayomi Daramola, on Wednesday, November 13, 2013, the BCPG leadership advised the government to conduct a post- mortem analysis or investigations with the intention to establish the scientific based reasons why the building collapsed.
“There was also the debate on the punishment to be meted out to the local government over the collapsed building,” he said.
“When a three-storey building under construction at No 13, Wilson Mba Street, Arowojobe Estate, Mende in Maryland, Lagos collapsed on Thursday, July 25, 2024, causing the death of five or six persons, the BCPG Kosofe Cell, having discovered some anomalies in its preliminary investigation, in an open letter to the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu demanded an official investigation. Up till today, there has been no investigation carried out. This creates room for speculations that the developer of the building must be very influential. Does it mean the land is yet to be confiscated by the government? Rhetorical,” the group said.
ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
and then