Fashola Inaugurates Tribunal Of Inquiry On Collapsed Buildings

Fashola Inaugurates Tribunal Of Inquiry On Collapsed Buildings





Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State on Monday inaugurated a six -man Tribunal of Inquiry to look into the frequent cases of collapsed buildings in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the tribunal, made up of members from various professional backgrounds, is chaired by Mr Abimbola Ajayi.

Other members are: Mrs Roli Graig, Mr Segun Adedeji, Mr Moses Ogunleye, Mr Joseph Adewale and Mr Biodun Rufai.

Inaugurating the tribunal in Ikeja, Fashola said the issue of collapsed buildings posed a big threat to lives and properties in the state.

He explained that the problem had challenged the capacity of government to protect lives and the tribunal was a major step to put an end to the unsavoury development.

``Over the years, building collapse has been an issue that has challenged the capacity of government to protect lives and properties and this is giving us a big cause to worry.

``The problem facing the state used to be incidents of buildings under construction suddenly giving way, but now, what we have is buildings constructed under 10 years ago suddenly collapsing.

``This really is a big challenge,’’ he said, noting that while defective buildings could be replaced, lost lives could not.

``We understand housing is still a big challenge in the state, but citizens should not risk their lives in the process of getting the house that would send them to their early graves.

``While the government will strive to protect all citizens under our care, residents and all stakeholders should take some responsibility by ensuring that they do things in the appropriate manner,`` he said.

The governor said building professionals were partly to blame for the situation as a good number of them used inferior building materials to execute their work.

He pointed out that some professionals also contributed to the problem by executing work on buildings outside of the approved plans.

``Often times, residents apply for building permits to construct a storey building, but end up constructing a four-storey building and professionals are involved in all of these.

``Now, if you build against the approval we have given, we will pull down the house or we will compel the person to reduce it to the approval he or she got from us,`` he said.

Fashola said the reluctance of residents to vacate defective buildings after they had been warned by government officials had contributed to losses arising from collapsed buildings.

He said it was impossible for government to solve the problem alone, appealing to stakeholders to collaborate with the state in bringing the menace to an end.

The governor said the government would not hesitate to deal with any of its officials found contributing either directly or remotely to the problem.

He urged the tribunal to justify the confidence reposed in them by helping the state with solutions and recommendations that would address the problem.

``Your responsibility is to inquire into the immediate and remote causes of building collapse in the state, especially those that collapsed recently.

``You should look into the quality of materials used in buildings and inspect buildings and estates in the state to ascertain their state.

``You should, within three months, help by submitting measures and recommendations that could help prevent cases of building collapse in the state,`` he added.



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