The Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG) has described the April 19 collapse of a three-storey building at Ojodu, Lagos State, as a stab on the collective conscience of its members.
In a statement on Monday, correspondent reports that the guild expressed deep concern over the incident, which claimed seven lives and injured 13 others. The statement was signed by the BCPG Coordinator, Mr. Abiodun Adegoke; General Secretary, Mr. Dom Ibeh; and Public Relations Officer, Mr. Femi Ishola.
The guild described the loss of lives as both pathetic and avoidable, noting that the collapse could have been prevented if recommendations made after a similar incident in the area 12 years ago had been properly implemented.
The BCPG recalled that on May 7, 2013, a four-storey building under construction at No. 15 Bashiru Street, Ojodu, also collapsed, resulting in the death of one person. Following that event, its Ojodu Cell conducted an investigation and made recommendations, including warnings about the dangers of occupying buildings still under construction, risks tied to the gradual addition of extra floors, and the need for structural integrity tests.
The guild stressed the importance of renewing construction permits for long-term projects and ensuring that only qualified professionals are engaged.
It pointed out that the two collapse sites — barely 150 metres apart — shared remarkably similar causes. In the recent collapse, the guild noted that the building had been under construction for an extended period, leaving it vulnerable to weather damage, and that the ground floor had reportedly been used for commercial activities while the upper floors remained incomplete.
The guild emphasised that any construction project abandoned for more than five years should undergo stringent safety checks before work resumes.
Raising further concerns, the BCPG flagged a newly built two-storey structure at No. 15 Bashiru Street, questioning whether the necessary approvals had been secured. It referenced the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law of 2010 and the Lagos State Building Control Agency Regulations of 2019, which stipulate that land on which a building collapses due to negligence should be forfeited to the government.
The guild called for an immediate investigation into the new development and commended the Lagos State House of Assembly for enacting laws aimed at curbing building collapses. However, it urged lawmakers to close the persistent gap between policy formulation and enforcement.
It also noted that official investigations into building collapses, critical for implementing land forfeiture, were rarely conducted.
The BCPG appealed to the Assembly to ensure a thorough probe into the Oremeta Street collapse and suggested the creation of a committee to review the status of collapsed building sites across Ojodu and Lagos State as a whole. It offered to assist by providing a comprehensive list of such sites if required.
The guild stressed that integrity must form the foundation of efforts to prevent building collapses, asserting that the safety of lives and property must not be compromised.
(NAN)