Collapsed building: Alaafin calls for stiffer penalties on owners, project handlers

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, has described the collapse of a three-storey building containing a school in Itafaaji area of Lagos on Wednesday as “extremely anguish’’.
The paramount ruler is in deep agony over the tragic incident,
particularly of small children, who he said they are potential future
leaders.
He noted that the incidence of building failures and collapses has
become major issues of concern in the development of Nigeria, as the
frequencies of their occurrence and the magnitude of the losses in
terms of lives and properties are now becoming very alarming.
‘’In fact, building collapse has now become a familiar occurrence,
even to layman on the street in Nigeria. The impact of the risk of
collapse buildings in Nigeria is huge. Huge amount of financial outlay
are lost at each occurrence. The capital lost results to low
contribution to GDP and negate the economic growth of the country.
Human lives that are unquantifiable are also lost in most of the
identified cases’’.
To this end, the royal father stressed the need for Government to be
ready to tackle the challenges of building neglect by the populace,
adding that this should be in form of legislation, enforcement,
support and assistance, publicity and education.
 Oba Adeyemi also advocated that stiffer penalties should be placed on
owners of collapse buildings and the project handlers in the country,
especially where loss of lives is involved, in order serve as a
deterrent to the carefree developers in the country.
 The Town Planning Authority, he pointed out, should maintain
competent professionals in the relevant areas for design approval and
from a long term perspective, provide the necessary training, while
there should be regular monitoring visits to all the construction
sites with a view to ensuring compliance with the approved building
plans.
While sympathizing with the parents and relations of the deceased, the
monarch wishing them God’s comfort and the injured speedy and complete recovery.
Oba Adeyemi also commiserated with the Government and people of Lagos State over the incident.