The Lagos State Government has said it will punish the owner of a building that collapsed in the Mushin area of the state.
The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) General Manager, Gbolahan Oki said this in a statement released on Wedbnesday by the Public Affairs Unit.
The collapsed building had an illegal attachment and collapsed under construction thereby affecting a nearby bungalow.
Oki said a preliminary investigation on the two-story building indicated that substandard materials were used for the infrastructure.
He added that LASBCA had in the past served a stop-work order and quit notice on the building which was subsequently sealed but was disobeyed by the property owner.
According to him, the owner of the building, however, decided to break the government seal to continue the illegal construction. He said that appropriate action to be taken could include the demolition of other defective structures within the compound, prosecution, and seizure of the property to redress the situation.
The LASBCA chief called on residents of the state to desist from erecting any building without requisite permits and stop acting against the law by removing the government seal on defective buildings. Oki described such an untoward act as illegal and a risk to lives.
He also refuted claims that a baby died at the building collapse site and maintained that no life was lost due to the agency’s prompt response.
He noted that the occupants who sustained injuries at the site are receiving medical attention at a nearby medical facility.
Oki warned developers and property owners against illegal constructions and conversions, especially attachments to existing buildings without approval and strict supervision by the Agency.
LASBCA also cautioned owners of distressed buildings marked for removal to remove them immediately to avoid sanctions.
