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•Says intimidation wrong-headed
By Maduka Nweke
The General Manager, Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Mr. Gbolahan Owodunni Oki, has condemned the incessant attacks on the agency’s staff on official duties.
Oki voiced his displeasure in his Ikeja Office while reacting to recent attacks on its officials with dangerous weapons and charms while on routine monitoring exercise along Music Village, Awolowo road, Ikorodu area of Lagos.
Meanwhile, the Coalition against Corruption and Bad Governance (CACOBAG) recently complained about what it calls misplaced treatment meted out to property owners in Lagos State. In its latest Save our Soul (SOS) letter sent to the Governor of Lagos State Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the group decried the system of punishing property owners instead of punishing LASBCA which it said is the real culprit when building codes are defied.
In a statement made available to Daily Sun, the CACOBAG Chairman, Mr. Toyin Raheem, said corruption, no doubt has become a monster affecting every facet of the lives of Nigerians. He said that its corrosive effects on the country cannot be overemphasized. He noted that the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria despite its flaws is unambiguous when it declared in Section 15 sub section 5, that “the state shall abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of office”.
“United Nations Convention against corruption frowns at betrayal of public trust. To what should we ascribe mortgaging the lives of Nigerians for money? Besides food and water, the most important basic need of life is shelter. This makes it a welcome development that gladdens the minds of people that agencies, organisations and societies are working on this basic need of life.
“There are LASBCA, Nigerian Institute of Building, Shelter Rights Project and others. It is sad and an irony that agencies of Government which people rely on are actually the ones mortgaging the lives of Nigerians due to lackadaisical attitude and corruption.
“It is in this regard that CACOBAG has to write this open letter to you, our governor in order to prevent further collapse of buildings which, in most cases has sent promising Nigerians to their early grave. CACOBAG is saddened that in respect of buildings that are being demolished in Lagos State, it is the building owners and tenants that are being punished, leaving the compromised officials of LASBCA to enjoy the proceeds of their crime.
However, Oki noted that no amount of intimidation or harassment will make the agency go back on its mandate of ensuring safe and secure buildings across the state.
“These assailants not only obstruct our staff but also hold them hostage for hours; these acts of hooliganism will not deter us from carrying out our duties.
Thankfully, we managed to overcome these attacks without any casualties. Our staff’s resilience and quick responses have played a crucial role in overpowering the assailants and preventing more severe consequences.
These are the kind of challenges we face daily in our bid to ensure that buildings in the State are safe and fit for habilitation.”
Oki calls on the general public to understand and support the agency in its mission to curb the menace of building collapses across the state noting that incidents of harassment and attacks tend to jeopardize the agency monitoring activities and can potentially pose significant threats to the public.
He reiterated the dedication of the agency in maintaining and enforcing building standards in Lagos State even in the face of adversity. He urges the citizens to collaborate in ensuring the safety and integrity of structures that will foster a secure environment for all. The assailant has since been handed over to security operatives for prosecution.
