By TINA TIMOTHY

Construction for Lagos Smart City Change (CSCC) has called on the Lagos State Government to, as a matter of utmost urgency, take action to enforce all building rules and regulations so as to save precious lives.

In an open letter to the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tuesday, May 24, 2022 and signed by its Coordinator, Lagos State, Mrs. Adebola R. Oseni, CSCC said the safety of Lagosians is our paramount desire at this age of Smart City and the group is particularly worried about an “illegal erection/distress building at No. 3 Akintoye Street, off Raliatu Street by Awero Street, Ajegunle Ajeromi-Ifelodun LGA, Lagos State,” which, according to the group, “violated all existing Lagos State agencies Law on building compliance regulations and safety.”

The letter reads: “Construction for Lagos Smart City Change (CSCC) is a non-profit organisation that advocates for and collaborates with government ministries and agencies to ensure building and construction quality and safety compliance. We have received several written petitions and oral complaints, including community CDA, about their dissatisfaction with the illegal erection/distress building at No. 3 Akintoye Street, off Raliatu Street by Awero Street Ajegunle Ajeromi-Ifelodun LGA, Lagos State, which violated all existing Lagos State agencies Law on building compliance regulations and safety.

“We, therefore, on behalf of concerned Ajegunle residents and Lagosians at large, request that all appropriate authorities and agencies take immediate action to enforce all building rules and regulations as stipulated in Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) Law (as amended), Lagos State Physical Permit Regulation 2019 (as amended), Lagos State Urban and Regulation Planning and Development Law (2019) (as amended), and Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) rules.

“We are much more concerned about the safety of residents, tenants, and especially students who take the time to read because they are less aware of the dangers that such a noncompliant building may pose to their lives. This is in addition to the fact that the building’s sewage tank is being constructed directly in the middle of the street’s drainage, obstructing the flow of wastewater. Imagine the traffic on the street during the rainy season.

“As a partner in progress in the effort to curb distress building collapse and illegal erection of buildings that have resulted in avoidable loss of life and property as seen in the Ikoyi. Building Collapse and the Ebute-Meta Building Collapse, we therefore urgently appeal to the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and other Ministries and Agencies concerned to take immediate action.

CSCC said the letter was also copied to the following agencies of Lagos State Government: Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA); Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA); Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA); National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA); Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and Hon. Fatai Ayoola, Executive Chairman of Ajeromi-Ifelodun LGA.