CAP: Lagos urges collaboration among building professionals
By Lydia Ngwakwe
The Lagos State Government has emphasised the need for collaboration among professionals in the built environment.
Mr Owodunni Oki, General Manager, Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), made the emphasis at the Implementation of Certified Accreditors Programme (CAP)- Official Opening of Expression of Interest (EOI) Box, on Friday in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that CAP is a public-private partnership between Lagos State Government and consultants in the built environment.
The main goal of the programme is to ensure that all buildings in Lagos are safe for people to live in.
Oki advised the professionals to form consortiums to pool their expertise and enhance their effectiveness.
Highlighting the importance of learning from real-world experiences, Oki told the professionals that on-site inspections would expose them to various challenges and best practices, regardless of their prior experiences.
He urged them to adopt best practices from advanced countries such Italy, Australia and the U.S., and adapt them to the specific context of Lagos.
Oki said that Lagos had strong building regulations but effective enforcement was a challenge.
He urged the professionals to play a crucial role in ensuring compliance with the regulations.
Oki advised them to maintain professional integrity and treat all cases impartially, emphasising that accreditors would be held accountable for any building collapse under their watch.
He encouraged them to see themselves as active participants in improving the built environment in the state.
He advised them to stand firm on their approvals and ensure that construction projects would adhere to approved plans.
Oki told the accreditors that their role involved both assets and liabilities, emphasising the importance of diligence and professionalism.
The Chief Resilience Officer for Lagos, Dr Folayinka Dania, said that a collaborative approach to building a resilient Lagos was important.
She said that collaboration among stakeholders would involve understanding of goals and responsibilities, and effective communication.
“The goal of this collaboration is to achieve efficient and sustainable development – development that is carried out at the right time, at the right cost, and with the right quality,” Diana said.
The Special Adviser to Gov. Babaji Sanwo-Olu on e-GIS and Urban Development, Dr Olajide Babatunde, emphasised the importance of accountability, transparency in the implementation of the programme.
He said that the selection process would be rigorous, adding that both professional qualifications and understanding of the local environment would be put into consideration.
He also said that a robust monitoring system would be in place to ensure accountability and prevent any deviation from regulations.
According to Babatunde, accreditors will be closely monitored by LASBCA.
He said that unscheduled site visits would be conducted to ensure compliance with building regulations.
He also said that penalties, which might include imprisonment, would be imposed on accreditors who failed to adhere to regulations, or engaged in misconduct.
Babatunde expressed the state government’s commitment to supporting the CAP programme.
He disclosed that the government would provide 60 vehicles to LASBCA in 2025 to enhance monitoring and ensure effective oversight of accreditors.
One of the participants, Mrs Rita Emina, who is an architect, expressed confidence in the programme, saying that involving consultants from the beginning of the process was crucial for its success. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Ijeoma Popoola
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