Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, yesterday, charged Lagos State Government to publish, urgently, reports of investigative panels on building collapse in the state.
Falana also called on the State to reorganise its Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development towards making it effective in ending abuse of physical planning and development in the state.
He made the appeal at an advocacy forum, entitled: “Building collapse and application of punitive laws in Lagos State”, organised by Building Collapse Prevention Guild, (BCPG), Ikeja Cell, in collaboration with Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja branch, in Lagos.
The forum was attended by present and past leaders of NBA, Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, Association of Professional Bodies, Nigerian Institute of Building, and building artisans across the state.
According to Falana, the government needs to publish all the reports, including those on the 21-storey building in Ikoyi, Ita-Faji school building, among others, and to ensure that both government and builders pay compensations to victims and their families.
“The 21-storey building that collapsed in Ikoyi, not a single case was filed, if it were in the United States of America, the government would have gone bankrupt. When we become aware of our rights, we make money.
“All over the world, people are looking for qualified builders to build structures but builders have relaxed and allowed all manner of people to enter the industry to the detriment of our lives,” he said.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria urged lawyers to work together with professionals in educating the people about obeying the physical planning laws and ensuring that those involved in building collapse are punished.
He also advised lawyers to stop being agents of impunity in society.
Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro, reiterated the commitments of the government to the enforcement of all laws across sectors, adding that residents must strive to comply with building regulations in particular, which, he said, has become a challenge for many.
Pedro called for active participation of all stakeholders in enforcing the law and the development of Lagos and charged lawyers to assist the government by not clogging the judicial systems with many court cases. He advocated stronger laws and policies and assured that the government will ensure that cases do not last more than 24-months in courts.
The commissioner for physical planning and urban development, Ogun State, Olatunji Odunlami, said structural failures, especially in Lagos, have become a sad development. He identified negligence as a potential cause of building collapse.
According to him, negligence comes through the process of design and failures of government regulatory bodies.
He said, “Government has to do something about its negligence, especially non-adherence to planning permits, connivance, and inadequate personnel.
“Failure of adequate preventive measures leads to building collapse, and regulatory agencies must enforce the provision of the law and constantly review them.”
