The Lagos State Government has stopped issuing permits for adding new floors to existing buildings.
This followed the incessant collapse of buildings and structures under construction. The last happened in Oniru.
According to Within Nigeria, Tayo Bamgbose-Martins, commissioner for physical planning and urban development, revealed the government’s choice during a discussion with professional bodies.
Present were representatives from the Nigerian Institute of Architects, Nigerian Institute of Builders, Nigerian Institute of Town Planners and Nigerian Institute of Mining and Geosciences.
Others include the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) and the Council for the Regulation of Engineers in Nigeria (COREN).
“For the time being, building permits are now based on the number of floors requested from the beginning of the building.
“We discourage permits for additional stories that differ from the numbers authorized when construction began,” Bamgbose-Martins said.
The commissioner announced that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had directed him to end cases of collapses that had tarnished the image of the country’s largest city.
Bamgbose-Martins assured that government officials found guilty would be prosecuted to deter others.
He called for a change in attitude on the part of Lagos officials, developers, citizens, organizations and stakeholders.
