Lagos – The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has arrested seven persons for violating the state’s building codes in Eti-Osa and Ikoyi areas of the state.
The General Manager of LASBCA, Gbolahan Oki said the violators were arrested on Wednesday
Oki told newsmen in Lagos on Thursday that those arrested were site engineers and other built professionals.
He said that they were arraigned before the Lagos State Mobile Court sitting in Eti-Osa Local Government Council Secretariat and Lagos State Task Force Office, Arena Oshodi for questioning and a fair hearing.
Oki explained that the clampdown on violators was in a bid to reduce the level of illegalities in the built industry and ultimately avert possible building collapse.
He stated that the arrested persons were apprehended for building without planning permit approvals and for breaking government seals.
He decried the level of disregard for tules and regulations in the build sector, saying that officials of the agency had been harassed at different times while on official duties.
He added that the sealed construction sites would not be reopened until due diligence is followed and necessary approvals obtained from relevant government agencies.
The General Manager revealed that the use of the mobile court is a new strategy by LASBCA, to promptly give a fair hearing to persons apprehended for contravening building regulation codes
“The idea of using the mobile court for quick adjudication to persons arrested for building code contravention was embraced by LASBCA after we noticed that people persistently break government seals place on their properties and also disregard Stopwork orders often issued by LASBCA on illegal properties,” Oki explained
He promised that the state government will not stop at just prosecuting the defaulters but will also go ahead to publish the names of the defaulters in national newspapers.
He gave assurances that the enforcement exercise would be sustained and extended to other divisions and local government areas of the State.
Also speaking, the Director of Enforcement, LASBCA, Mr. Olusoji Olaopa said consistent enforcement activities being carried out by the agency will assist in drastically reducing illegalities in the built sector through early detection.
He called on professionals in the sector to endeavour to do due diligence by obtaining all necessary permits and documents as stipulated in the law before the commencement of construction works.
(LSMO/vitalnewsngr.com)
