Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG) has called for more action against substandard buildings under construction in Ebute Metta and environs. This was with a view to saving the lives of citizens, following incidents of building collapse on Lagos Mainland.

The guild said the call became necessary after the loss of three lives during the collapse of a four-storey building, on Friday, December 22, at Lagos Street, Ebute Metta.

According to the guild, when a three-storey building collapsed at No 29, Oloto Street, Ebute-Metta on the Lagos Mainland on July 11, 2013, BCPG advised that the other four- storey building within this same compound should be cordoned off as it appeared weak. The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) took proactive measures by ejecting the tenants and making sure the building remained unoccupied. On July 7, 2015, this building also collapsed. No life was lost due to the preventive measures taken.

Coordinator, BCPG Lagos Mainland Cell, Felix Chikwu, warned then: “Substandard buildings that are being constructed in Ebute Metta by developers will sooner or later collapse, endangering the lives of occupants, if no concrete steps are taken to get rid of these weak buildings. My predecessor and the former coordinator, Mrs. Nike Lanre-Ladenegan, led BCPG members in Ebute Metta to the sites of many substandard buildings under construction, leading to several BCPG Short Message Service (SMS) broadcast in whistle-blowing.” He added: “An exercise that will ascertain structural integrity of these buildings should be conducted.”