We ’ll prevent building collapse in Oyo, Makinde assures

Osborne residents lament violation of planning laws

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, yesterday, said that his administration had put in place policies and programmes to prevent building collapse in the state.

Makinde disclosed this during the 9th conference on Environmental Health Sciences (CEHS, Ibadan 2021) at the Conference Centre, University of Ibadan (UI), which was organised by the Environmental Health Scientists Association of Nigeria (EHSAN).

Makinde, who was represented by his Special Assistant on Environment, Mr. Ademola Aderinto, said: “Let me say that Oyo State government has braced up for the dry port’s monumental industrialisation and urbanisation changes. With the dry port, there will be a massive change in the narrative of the built environment in the state and problems due to over-activity and workplace accidents.

“All these are very negative things that tamper with the well-being of our citizens through the activities in the built environment. I can tell you that the administration is more than ready for them.

“Policies, laws and regulations for the built environment are being put in place (and many of them in active operation now) to ensure our built environment in Oyo State becomes and continues to be a blessing to the people — and not a curse.”

IN another development, the Osborne Foreshore Phase II Residents Association (OSFRA) in lkoyi, yesterday, appealed to the Lagos State government to stop all construction activities by developers in the estate, which contravene the original plan and design of the community.

The association also seeks the commissioning of a detailed planning audit and structural integrity appraisal of all ongoing building projects by the state’s Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development with a view to enforcing the extant laws of the government.

Speaking with journalists in Lagos, OSFRA Chairperson, Chinwe Ezenwa-Mbah, urged the government to remove all identified contraventions in the interest of the public, including the prospective owners/subscribers of the various dwelling units that violate the extant laws of regulating the estate.

The chairperson expressed concerns about untoward activities of some developers who contravene existing approval orders and claims to have the appropriate planning approvals from the states’ building regulatory agencies.