Lagos urges contractors to obey construction sites guidelines

Poised to curb the spread of coronavirus, the Lagos State Government has charged professionals in the built industry to ensure that the guidelines recently issued for construction activities are fully observed.

The State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako who reiterated that it was mandatory for every construction site to fully observe the guidelines, declared that the ministry and its agencies wouldn’t hesitate to seal off any erring site flouting the order in that regard.

According to the guidelines obtained by The Guardian, the Commissioner said all construction workers on sites are expected to observe social distancing of not less than five feet, make provision for washing of hands by workers and visitors; sanitise before as well as after entering construction sites.

He stated that no construction site must have more than 15 workers per construction activity in the state while no articulated truck or staff vehicle must convey more than 15 workers per trip in line with the state’s Ministry of Transportation guideline for public transportation.

Salako said: “Construction sites must maintain good hygiene at all times, expected to have alcohol based sanitizers on site for the use of workers, visitors and must maintain other safety measures.

“The ministry wishes to express appreciation to the general public, particularly the professionals in the built environment who have inundated the ministry with inquiries and seeking clarifications regarding the recently released guidelines popularly called Corona virus.”

The Commissioner further advised members of the public to report any construction site that doesn’t comply with these guidelines to the ministry or its agencies for necessary actions. He noted that to stop further spread of the virus in Lagos State and Nigeria, it would require support of everyone.

In a related development,, the State’s Building Control Agency (LASBCA) is set to commence enforcement of the social distancing order on construction sites.

The agency stated that construction sites must not have more than 20 people congregating at any time.

The General Manger, (LASBCA), Mrs. Abiola Kosegbe, disclosed this while speaking with newsmen on measures taken by the agency to curtail the spread of the dreaded virus in the built Industry.

She emphasised that life of every Lagosians is important and that the agency would go all out to ensure that artisans, labourers and professionals on building sites do not exceed 20 persons per construction site and maintain at least two meters away from each other as advised by the World Health Organisation (WHO).