THE GUARDIAN
Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes Vivour, has said the impunity surrounding building collapses in the state has persisted due to a lack of political will to implement far-reaching building control reforms.
The Guardian report that an unspecified number of workers were trapped in a collapsed seven-storey building yesterday in Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos State.
Rhodes Vivour, in a statement on Thursday, reacting to the incident, expressed his condolences to the victims and noted that the collapse has once again brought to the forefront the issue of building and development control in Lagos State.
“It is not the first time that a building has collapsed in Lagos State, especially in recent years, and it is instructive that no one has been held accountable for the discernible impunity surrounding these incidents. This is unacceptable and calls for urgent action,” Rhodes Vivour said.
According to Rhodes Vivour, substandard construction and regulatory agencies have failed to carry out their responsibilities as a result of corruption and a lack of accountability, contributing to the problem.
He noted that it is unacceptable that those responsible for ensuring that buildings are constructed according to predetermined standards have failed in their duties.
“It is high time that the government takes decisive action to address this issue. At the heart of the matter is the need for building reforms at the local government level. The local government has a crucial role to play in ensuring that buildings are constructed according to safety standards,” he added.
Rhodes Vivour pointed out that building codes and regulations should be enforced, regular inspections should be conducted, and permits should be revoked for buildings that do not meet safety standards.
He added that the local government should also invest in training and capacity building for those responsible for enforcing building regulations.
“Other regulatory agencies need to be strengthened, and their powers enhanced to ensure they carry out their duties effectively. Builders and developers must be held accountable for any substandard construction that results in the loss of life or property. In this time of grief, one way to placate the bereaved is for the government to take immediate action to prevent future occurrences of such incidents…
