In the wake of building collapse incidents in Lagos state, the Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG) has demanded Increased action against substandard building structures under construction in Ebute Metta and its surroundings. This was done in an effort to safeguard lives and properties .
The guild stated that, the need for the sanctions arose when a four-storey building collapsed, taking three lives. on Friday, December 22, at Ebute Metta.
According to the guild, when a three-storey building collapsed at No 29, Oloto Street, Ebute-Metta on the Lagos Mainland on July 11, 2013, BCPG advised that the other four- storey building within this same compound should be sealed off as it appeared fragile. The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) took proactive measures by ejecting the tenants and making sure the building remained unoccupied. On July 7, 2015, this same building also collapsed. No life was lost due to the preventive measures taken.
Coordinator of the BCPG Lagos Mainland Cell Felix Chikwu issued the following warning at the time: “If concrete steps are taken to get rid of these fragile buildings, substandard buildings in Ebute Metta will eventually collapse, endangering the lives of occupants.” Many subpar buildings under construction were visited by BCPG members in Ebute Metta under the direction of my predecessor and the previous coordinator, Mrs. Nike Lanre-Ladenegan.
This resulted to multiple whistleblowing BCPG Short Message Service (SMS) broadcasts. He continued, saying, “An exercise that will ascertain these buildings’ structural integrity should be conducted.”
