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Lagos Govt revokes all building permits, orders revalidation of ongoing constructions

Published

2 months ago

July 27, 2024

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu

Lagos Govt revokes all building permits, orders revalidation of ongoing constructions

The Lagos State Government has revoked all existing building permits for ongoing projects across the state and mandated builders to reapply for validation.

This decision was announced by Dr. Olajide Babatunde, the Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on e-GIS and Urban Development, during a visit to Maryland, Ikeja where a building collapsed, killing five workers.

Accompanied by Mr. Gbolahun Oki, General Manager of the Lagos State Building Collapse Agency (LASBCA), and other officials, Babatunde emphasized that the revocation of all commencement certifications is a crucial step towards enforcing stringent safety standards in Lagos construction.

He highlighted the necessity for owners of ongoing building construction in the state to revalidate their documents with LASBCA, warning that non-compliance would lead to site closures.

“All commencement certifications in Lagos are revoked effective immediately. This applies to everyone with a construction site, including those in the Big Five category.

“Return to the LASBCA office to revalidate that document, if you decide not to go for the revalidation of that documentation, we are going to seal that site,’’ he said.

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While expressing sorrow over the building collapse, Babatunde emphasized that such incidents should never happen, blaming property owners and developers for negligence and violating building regulations despite the government’s preventive measures.

He stressed the importance of obtaining a Certificate of Completion or Fitness for Habitation before occupying a building and warned that the government would prosecute anyone violating this rule.

Babatunde disclosed that LASBCA would increase enforcement efforts, including using private consultants to inspect buildings, and mentioned that the agency had already taken steps such as issuing stop-work orders and sealing buildings despite facing challenges from limited resources and hostile developers. He called on private professionals to collaborate with the government to strengthen regulation enforcement in the state.

The General Manager of LASBCA, Mr. Gbolahun Oki, outlined the agency’s response to the recent building collapse, stating that LASBCA would conduct comprehensive inspections in the affected estate and demolish unsafe structures. He emphasized the need for rigorous inspections and approvals due to the area’s poor soil conditions.

Oki insisted that all construction sites must have a full team of professionals to ensure adherence to building codes and announced strict enforcement of construction hours and the prohibition of on-site sleeping to improve worker safety. Oki mentioned plans to expand the agency’s capacity through public-private partnerships to enhance building control and inspection.

Lagos Govt revokes all building permits, orders revalidation of ongoing constructions

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metro

Maiduguri flood: Displaced persons return home as water recedes

Published

1 hour ago

September 19, 2024

Trends Admin

Maiduguri flood: Displaced persons return home as water recedes

Many people displaced by Alau Dam flood in Maiduguri have started leaving camps for their respective homes as the water receded in many areas of the city.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that all those leaving camps are provided with two weeks of food ration and N10,000 each by the State Government which has embarked on distribution of cash and food items in the 32 camps across Maiduguri.

The flood disaster has affected nearly one million people, with around 200,000 displaced. Many residents have had to turn to boats for transportation due to the high water levels.

The flooding has also led to significant infrastructure damage, including the collapse of bridges and the flooding of hospitals and schools.

In his maiden briefing at the Flood Disaster Situation Room, the Borno State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Prof. Usman Tar, said over 30,000 households with a population of over 600,000 were registered i the camps.

Tar said that the government was committed to closing the camps within two weeks and was happy to see some people leaving after collecting their ration.

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Tar said that about 40 per cent of the camps were being attended to with the cash and food palliatives by members of the flood committee.

According to him, a Rapid Assessment Team had been established with technically qualified individuals and community leaders to go round and assess damage for government support.

“The committee will go round and check the nature of destruction on homes and determine the cash equivalent of the destruction on the basis of which the government shall provide cash support to each household.

On incidents of looting in some affected areas, Tar said that security men had been mobilised with many arrests made.

He cautioned against some reported dangerous activities like consumption of dead animals, contaminated food and drugs, adding that public enlightenment was on for arrest and prosecution of those involved in the sales and distribution of contaminated items.

“On the issue of escaped animals from the Maiduguri Zoo, a team has been dispatched to trace them with many captured.

“I am happy to tell you that the Lion in the zoo survived the flood and is being rehabilitated,” the commissioner said.

Maiduguri flood: Displaced persons return home as water recedes

(NAN)

metro

Ganduje not plotting to dethrone any Kano Emir – Aide

Published

2 hours ago

September 19, 2024

Trends Admin

National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje

Ganduje not plotting to dethrone any Kano Emir – Aide

ABUJA: Senior Special Assistant on Public Enlightenment to the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Chief Oliver Okpala has dispelled allegations in some quarters that his principal, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje was plotting a fresh dethronement of Emir Muhammadu Lamido Sanusi of Kano.

An online report with the headline, “Ganduje leads a fresh plot to dethrone Emir Muhammadu Sanusi” had alleged “a fresh plot” by Ganduje “to dethrone Muhammadu Sanusi as the Emir of Kano”

The report quoted “sources within the Kofar Kudu Palace, powerful individuals in Kano allegedly led by Dr Ganduje, are orchestrating the removal of the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor as the 16th Emir of Kano and Chairman of the Kano Council of Chiefs”

Reacting to the publication, Chief Okpala insisted that nothing could be farther from the truth about the claims, reiterating that Dr Ganduje has nothing to do with the allegation of a fresh plot to dethrone Emir Muhammadu Sanusi.

Okpala said Ganduje was no longer the Governor of Kano state, neither is he the Speaker of the state House of Assembly and could not be linked to any fresh plot or plan to dethrone or enthrone anyone as Emir of Kano.

“It should be made categorically clear that Dr Ganduje has nothing to do with the present enthronement or dethronement of Emir Muhammadu Sanusi in Kano state.

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“It should be noted that Dr Ganduje is no longer the Executive Governor of Kano state or the speaker of the Kano state House of Assembly and therefore cannot have anything to do further with the Emirship of Kano.

“It is laughable that Dr Ganduje who has left office as Governor for some years now would be accused of masterminding a fresh plot to remove or enthrone an Emir.

“According to the publication, Ganduje is not only alleged to be plotting to remove Emir Sanusi, they said he is also plotting to advise Alhaji Ado Bayero to abdicate his throne as Emir of Kano for peace to reign. This is, to say the least preposterous and absurd.

“It must be made clear that Dr Ganduje has led and governed Kano state creditably and since moved on, focusing on other more important national issues, as he leads Nigeria’s governing party, the APC.

metro

Yobe man murders business partner over N500,000 debt

Published

3 hours ago

September 19, 2024

Trends Admin

Yobe man murders business partner over N500,000 debt

A 24-year-old man from Yobe State has been arrested for allegedly murdering a business associate over a debt of N500,000.

Police say Yunus Isa killed Lawan Adamu, also 28, in Damaturu, the state capital, after failing to repay the money. The two men were traders dealing in engine oil and other lubricants.

Isa had reportedly borrowed the sum under false pretences, claiming it was to open a new outlet with a profit-sharing agreement. However, he is said to have used the money to fund his marriage instead.

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When Adamu repeatedly demanded the repayment of the loan, Isa allegedly lured him to a remote area on 15 September, where he fatally stabbed him.

Yobe State Police spokesperson, DSP Dungus Abdulkarim, confirmed Isa’s arrest, stating that after initial denials, Isa confessed to the crime under interrogation. He added that the swift resolution of the case underscores the police’s commitment to public safety.