Sanwo-Olu suspends LASBCA GM indefinitely for Collapse of Lagos building
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has directed the immediate suspension of the General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Mr Gbolahan Oki, indefinitely.
His suspension is said to be connected with the collapse of the 21- storey building on Gerrard Road, Ikoyi.
Before his suspension, the General Manager had revealed to press men that the approved plan for the collapsed building was 15 floors, and not 21 floors that was embarked upon by the developer.
The big question is: Where were the relevant agencies when this was going on?
The former GM’s revelation is nothing short of an indictment and gross negligence that is prevalent in many regulatory agencies and control agencies all across the country.
It shows that the monster of corruption has eaten deep to the core of the civil engineering profession, and as long as the right palms are greased everything goes.
One wonders how the developer added 6 unapproved floors without the relevant building agencies in the know.
Hopefully, the independent panel set up by the Lagos State government to investigate what really happened will have the answers. The panel will consist of members from the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), Nigeria Institute of Architects (NIA) and other professional bodies who will properly analyze the situation.
One will also hope no stones would be left unturned to avoid future occurrences of this sad event. Hopefully, in the quest to know the truth about what happened to the high rise building there won’t be cover up and anyone found wanting will be brought to book.
