Collapse: Lagos Tasks BCPG With Whistleblowing on Illegal Buildings
The Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development has tasked the Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG) on whistleblowing of illegal building construction in the State.
According to the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, the collaboration with the BCPG would go a long way in preventing building collapse in the state.
Olumide spoke during the Courtesy visit of the Building Collapse Prevention Guild, Lagos Chapter on the Ministry on Wednesday,
This was disclosed in a statement signed by Mukaila Sanusi, the Deputy Director, Public Affairs for the Ministry.
According to the statement, Olumide urged the guild to step up its watchdog activities by monitoring building construction sites for infractions, which should be promptly reported to the ministry for appropriate action.
The commissioner was quoted as saying, “We will appreciate that you carry out independent monitoring of construction sites and report any observed illegality or infraction as we can best maintain a sustainable built environment through proper surveillance of the built environment and whistle blowing.
“It is important to emulate the developed world, which thrives on whistle blowing to secure the environment and keep wrong doers at bay”.
He added that the government, in its determination to stop building collapse, was very desirous of maintaining alliances with professional associations such as the BCPG.
He said that the Certified Accreditor Programme(CAP), the new initiative of the Lagos State Government to fastrack building plan approval and enhance staging of building construction works, through the involvement of tested and trusted private professionals, had its roots in government’s readiness to build alliance with professionals for the good of the physical environment.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, noted that training and certification of artisans, who are an important factor in building collapse prevention, would be revisited to promote building right.
The National President, BCPG, Tpl. Sulaimon Yusuf applauded the request of the ministry and urged for prompt feedback when any report was made by members of the association.
The Chairman, BCPG, Lagos State, Tpl. Joseph Akande commended the Certified Accreditor Programme (CAP) initiative, adding that its introduction would instil sanity and confidence in the sector.
