Buillding collapse: Experts admonish Ogun govt on high building approval fees

Experts have urged the Ogun State government to make statutory building assessment fees and levies reasonable, warning that excessive charges could discourage property owners from obtaining approvals and undermine efforts to prevent building collapse.

They made the call at a Joint Building Safety Awareness Programme, organised by the Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG), Ogun State Chapter, in collaboration with the Ogun State Building Production Management Authority (OGBPMA) at Oronna Hall, Ilaro.

The programme, themed: “Building Safe, Compliant and Quality Structures,” brought together regulators, construction professionals, developers, artisans and property owners to discuss building regulations and construction safety.

The stakeholders advocated balance regulatory enforcement with affordable compliance procedures, to encourage property owners to obtain approvals and engage qualified professionals.

Speaking at the event, Chairman of BCPG, Ogun State Chapter, Mr Adedayo Ogunsola, noted that preventing building collapse required effective regulatory oversight, professional vigilance and collaboration among stakeholders.

He said the guild comprised registered members from seven professional bodies in the built environment, enabling it to contribute multidisciplinary expertise to construction monitoring and promote compliance with approved building standards.

Ogunsola added that BCPG worked with OGBPMA officials to encourage adherence to approved building plans, appropriate construction procedures and statutory requirements.

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Acting General Manager of OGBPMA, Mrs Titilayo Oladogbon, outlined the authority’s building compliance requirements, and disclosed that the state government had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with BCPG to support construction supervision across the state.

She said the arrangement would not impose additional costs on property owners beyond the necessary approval fees.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Abiola Ayodele, urged residents to engage qualified built-environment professionals and comply with building regulations, warning that violations would attract appropriate sanctions.

Meanwhile, the Carpenters Association has raised concerns about substandard building materials in the market, particularly timber, saying the difficulty of obtaining quality materials posed safety risks during and after construction. It called for stronger measures to address the problem.

Coordinator of BCPG’s Yewa-Ilaro Cell, Dr Olubenga Shoyemi, said the cell had provided free technical guidance to homeowners undertaking construction projects in the informal sector.

Participants were also advised to use approved building plans, obtain necessary authorisations and secure appropriate stage certifications during construction.

BCPG reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with regulators, professionals and communities to improve construction standards and prevent avoidable building collapses across Ogun State.