Collapsed Ikorodu building has no permit, says LABSCA
[FILES] Ikorodu
Refutes extortion allegation on airport road
The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LABSCA), yesterday said the landlord of the collapsed two-story building under construction in Ikorodu had no permit.
The General Manager of the agency, Gbolahan Oki, an architect, said the body of the dead landlord had been recovered from the debris at 77, Tapa Road, Oke-Ojo, Isawo in Ikorodu, Lagos State.
The incident occurred at about 2.30 p.m., while people were celebrating Eid-el-Kabir.
Confirming the incident, Oki said officials of the agency were about to go to the site before the collapse.
It was learned that the body of the landlord, identified as Pastor Daniel Obasi, was recovered from the rubbles by emergency responders and handed over to Isawo Division Police.
MEANWHILE, LABSCA has refuted allegations of extortion by business owners at Murtala Mohammed International Airport Road, Lagos.
Oki said the publication by an online media outfit, The News Express, on Monday, was targeted at tarnishing the image and good works of the agency.
In the publication, the spokesman for the business owners association, Mr. Stephen Okere, was quoted as alleging that LABSCA officials had resorted to harassment, intimidation, and extortion in the cause of their duty.
The association also alleged that the enforcement unit of LASBCA always carries out illegal duties along the International Airport Road.
Stressing the need to correct this impression as published, Oki explained that for the avoidance of doubt, the Lagos State Building Control Agency was created through the State Regional Planning and Development Law of 2010 to ensure that basic minimum standards are maintained in Building Construction and Renovation in order to guarantee that existing and new building construction is safe, healthy, accessible and habitable for present and future generations.
According to him, it is in light of the above that districts offices are maintained in all local government areas/LCDAs to monitor and regulate all construction activities including renovations remodeling as well as distressed and dilapidated buildings so as to prevent loss of lives and properties associated with building collapse and properly ensure that owners and developers build according to specifications.
Dismissing the allegations of harassment and extortion, the General Manager, said the LABSCA officials had on Monday, July 19, came across a commercial building (bungalow) in the process of being renovated while on routine monitoring of their area, but rather than grant the officers access to the building, the occupiers harassed and prevented them from carrying out their lawful duties.
Oki noted that such allegations were not new especially from the business owners along the Airport road as they had always used blackmail on officers from LABSCA in the past.
Related
Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox every day of the week. Stay informed with the Guardian’s leading coverage of Nigerian and world news, business, technology and sports.
0 Comments
We will review and take appropriate action.