Sola Adeigbe, Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) general manager, speaks with Special Correspondent DADA JACKSON on his vision, mission, and challenges, among other issues confronting the agency.
What LASBCA does
LASBCA was set up by the state government to ensure that basic minimum standards are maintained in building construction and renovation in order to ensure that existing and new buildings are safe, healthy, accessible, and habitable for present and future generations.
We work together with developers or owners to provide high quality service and make sure that all building works are satisfactorily carried out.
We also work closely with other government agencies such as Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA).
The laws governing LASBCA are the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Act 2010 and the National Building Code.
Functions
The functions of LASBCA include building control in all its ramifications, approval to commence construction after obtaining development permit, inspection and certification of various stages of construction, verification of general contractor’s all risk and building insurance policy, issuance of certificate of completion of building construction and fitness for habitation, identification and removal of distressed and non-conforming buildings, public health control in buildings, and identification and removal of distressed buildings.
Mission and vision
My vision and mission for the agency is encapsulated in our flyers which are made available to members of the public who intend to do business with us.
Having said that, however, my mission for the agency is to ensure that during my tenure, I am able to reposition LASBCA to meet the yearnings and expectations of Lagosians in respect of complying with building regulations.
I also intend to attune myself to the aspirations of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in his zero tolerance for building collapse in the state.
Challenges and how you address them
For now, our major challenge is who build indiscriminately without recourse to the agency thereby endangering the lives of Lagosians.
Since assuming office as the helmsman of the agency, I have endeavoured to sensitise Lagosians on the need to always approach the agency whenever they want to commence development so that they would not run foul of the law guiding development in the state.
Another challenge is the penchant of some people who go outside the original approval given to them.
For instance, if somebody is given permit to construct a bungalow or a one-storey building, before you know it, he or she has gone ahead to construct a one-storey building instead of bungalow or a four-storey building instead of one-storey.
You don’t expect the agency to fold its arms and allow such an illegality to thrive. Another challenge is the preponderance of distressed or near distressed buildings in the state. The governor is averse to building collapse, hence the need to pull down such structures where it is absolutely necessary to do so.
I am appealing to members of the public to assist the agency by reporting cases of distressed or near distressed buildings to any district office of LASBCA so that we can move in quickly to avoid collapse.
Our men are charged with the responsibility of monitoring buildings that are in distress. At LASBCA, we are proactive and would not relent in our efforts at carrying out the mandate given to us by the governor.
Steps to be taken by prospective developers
Before anybody commences construction, such an individual should visit our office at the old GRA, Ikeja and acquaint him or herself with the necessary steps to take to avoid contravening the law.
By the way, we have opened a website which is open to everybody to access information about the agency.
However, for the benefit of the reading public, such steps include visiting any district office of the Lagos State Physical Planning Authority (LASPPA) to get approval.
Thereafter, such an individual should approach LASBCA to obtain development permit before commencement of construction of any building.
It is advisable for any developer to engage the services of professionals so that they would know how to go about their development.
We have discovered that often times, most people resort to the services of quacks or less qualified personnel to engage in their development thereby endangering the lives of the people.
This development is usually borne out of the desire to cut corners and also to make huge profits at the expense of the safety of would be occupants of such buildings.
My appeal to such developers is that they should consider the interest of those that would eventually occupy such structures.
Allegations of compromise by LASBCA officials
That is not true. Since I assumed office as general manager of the agency, I’ve put in place a mechanism to check any untoward behaviour by the personnel of LASBCA, especially those who have direct contact with members of the public.
However, it is pertinent to reiterate that so far no member of the agency has been caught compromising his or her office for any pecuniary reason or otherwise.
Any member of staff of the agency found wanting would be severely sanctioned as a way of serving as deterrent to others.
LASBCA is an agency which has zero tolerance for corruption in line with the vision of the governor and I would not hesitate to wield the big stick on any member of staff who intends to drag the name of the agency in the mud.
My staff are well motivated hence, there would be no justification in trying to engage in shady deals.