Lagos State govt partners NESP to domesticate national building code

• Urges private sector to channel fossil fuel spending to renewable energy
• Seeks collaboration on climate change action

Lagos State government, yesterday, said it had begun a process towards domesticating the National Building Code in the state.

The initiative is in partnership with the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP), which is offering to midwives the process through technical assistance.

The state’s Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako, who spoke with journalists in Lagos, said the process, when fully developed, would be entitled “Lagos Building Code,” which will be the logical consequence of the domestication of the national codes, and intended to supply the missing link in the existing regulatory framework by providing the much needed focus on performance standards for building in the state as opposed to design standards.

He said that the state might not adopt the national building code wholeheartedly, but would adopt it to address the peculiarities of Lagos and its different localities, while minimising costs of untold disasters from flooding, collapse and fire outbreaks.

The commissioner further disclosed that the government would engage professionals, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in developing and launching of the Lagos Building Code as another model for the country.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Infrastructure, Mrs. Aramide Adeyoye, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mrs. Abiola Kosegbe, said the new move would help to develop a local standard in line with the peculiarity of the Lagos environment.

Besides, the Advisor, NESP, Edima Okodi-Iyah, said the partnership would enable the incorporation of energy efficiency and green building design aspects into the National Building Code that will become the Lagos Building Code.

IN another development, Lagos State government has urged the private sector to collaborate with it to channel the yearly N5.3 trillion associated with burning fossil fuels into renewable energy sources with potential savings made.

Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tunji Bello, stated this yesterday at the first Lagos climate change business meeting.

According to the commissioner, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Mr. Gaji Omobolaji Tajudeen, said: “In as much as we are aware of the threat climate change poses to the environment, economy and livelihood, we also need to begin to view climate change from prism of opportunities it presents in the area of job creation, attraction of direct investment, healthcare improvement, waste to energy initiative, sustainable infrastructure development and renewable energy investment.”