Lagos: The Lagos State Government has emphasised the need for collaboration among professionals in the built environment. Mr Owodunni Oki, General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), highlighted this during the Implementation of Certified Accreditors Programme (CAP) – Official Opening of Expression of Interest (EOI) Box event on Friday in Lagos.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, CAP is a public-private initiative between the Lagos State Government and built environment consultants, aimed at ensuring all buildings in Lagos are safe for habitation. Oki encouraged professionals to form consortiums to leverage their collective expertise for greater effectiveness. He underscored the value of learning from real-world experiences through on-site inspections that expose professionals to diverse challenges and best practices.
Oki urged the adoption of best practices from advanced countries like Italy, Australia, and the U.S., tailored to Lagos’s specific context. While Lagos has robust bu
ilding regulations, Oki noted that enforcement remains a challenge, and he called on professionals to ensure compliance with these regulations, maintain integrity, and handle all cases impartially. Accreditors, he stressed, would be held accountable for any building collapses under their supervision.
The Chief Resilience Officer for Lagos, Dr Folayinka Dania, highlighted the importance of collaboration for building a resilient Lagos. She stated that stakeholders’ collaboration should involve a mutual understanding of goals and responsibilities, alongside effective communication, to achieve efficient and sustainable development.
Dr Olajide Babatunde, Special Adviser to Gov. Babaji Sanwo-Olu on e-GIS and Urban Development, stressed the significance of accountability and transparency in the programme’s implementation. He mentioned that the selection process would be rigorous, considering professional qualifications and local environmental understanding. A robust monitoring system will be in place to ensure adh
erence to regulations.
LASBCA will closely monitor accreditors, with unscheduled site visits to ensure compliance. Penalties, potentially including imprisonment, will be imposed for regulatory breaches or misconduct. Babatunde affirmed the state’s commitment to supporting the CAP programme, announcing the provision of 60 vehicles to LASBCA in 2025 for enhanced monitoring and oversight.
One participant, Mrs Rita Emina, an architect, expressed confidence in the programme, noting that involving consultants from the outset is crucial for its success.