Experts have appealed to Lagos residents, developers and other professionals to adhere strictly to existing regulations guiding housing construction.

They argued that voluntary compliance with building laws and regulations will help to achieve zero-building collapse, a safe and sustainable housing industry.

They spoke at an advocacy programme themed: ‘Public Governance in Troubled Times: The Rule of Law and Protection of the Built-Environment’ organised by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja branch in collaboration with Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG), Ikeja Cell.

Leading the appeal, the State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Lawal Pedro, argued that as legal practitioners, it is their responsibility to guide the people on the need to apply for and obtain requisite permits and approvals before the construction of buildings. He noted concerns regarding the current application for building permits, which the government has put in place to address and enhance the application process.

“Let us embrace the rule of law to navigate troubled times effectively by promoting transparency, accountability and adherence to the laws for resilience and prosperous country. Like every other sector, the building industry is regulated by law and regulations guide the activities of professionals. The need for regulations is to avoid loss of life, investment, injuries and other hazards caused by building collapse, demolition, land grabbing and environmental nuisance,” he said.

He explained that to achieve a safe, secure and sustainable building environment, the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, building control agency and urban renewal agencies, materials testing laboratory, safety commission, lands Bureau, State’s task force on land grabbers among others were established with varied responsibilities in Lagos.

The Coordinator, BCPG, Ikeja Cell, Dr Gbolahan Oyelakin, said the forum was part of the collective effort to ensure zero building collapse in alignment with the mission of the guild. He noted that a lot of issues are happening in the building sector, particularly fire incidents, hence, the need to sensitise the stakeholders on how to avert the recurrence of such incidents.

BCGP President, Suleiman Yusuf, said BCPG and NBA realised that there is a need to take the fight for zero tolerance to building collapse to the public, adding that the rule of law and environmental protection are crucial in the fight.

In his contributions, human rights activist, Mr Femi Falana, advised the government to solve the challenge of illegal development and demolitions by engaging more personnel for building monitoring and control in the state. Falana lamented the lack of officials to ensure that properties are not developed in defiance of the law in Lagos State.

He stressed that the citizens are ready to pay taxes but noted that there must be justification for the fulfilment of such responsibility through the provision of social amenities for the people. Falana observed that the violators of town planning laws in Lagos are local council officials, who allegedly allow all manners of shops to spring up in locations preventing convenient parking space in Lagos Island and other councils.

Falana further said there must be a reference to master plans when talking about physical planning in any society. He urged the government to make examples of people causing noise pollution in their environment, while the government also needs to reclaim the city, especially parks.

Addressing the gathering, Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Oluyinka Olumide, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Oluwole Sotire, advised lawyers not to assist clients, who want avoid compliance with building laws but guide them to obey the law. Olumide said when a building fails or is gutted by fire, money is wasted, hence the need not to contravene laws.

According to him, the government is already working towards domestication of the National Building Code in Lagos. Earlier, the Chairman of the NBA Ikeja branch, Olawunmi Oluwaseyi, lauded the guild for sustaining the advocacy programme yearly and expressed confidence that it will yield a positive impact by engendering a safer building environment in Lagos.

The forum attracted a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Olumide Adeyinka-Fusika, past president of the Nigerian Institute of Building, Kunle Awobodu, General Manager of Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Babatunde Ajayi, General Manager Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPA), Kehinde Osinaike, who was represented and General Manager, Lagos State Planning and Environmental Monitoring Authority (LASPEMA), Daisi Oso, who provided insights into efforts to ensure a sustainable building industry in the state.