Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos on Monday read the riot act to officials of the state government, warning that henceforth, anyone found to have compromised in the discharge of his/her duty in cases relating to collapse of buildings in the state will be prosecuted along with the contractors.
He gave the warning while inaugurating a tribunal of enquiry to investigate the major causes of increasing cases of building collapse in the commercial city. In the last two weeks, three buildings in different locations in the state caved in, resulting in loss of lives and property worth millions of naira.
This regular occurrence in Lagos has been linked in some cases to poor quality building materials, engagement of non professionals in construction work, and age of some of the collapsed buildings especially in areas like Lagos Island.
Fashola said the spate of building collapse in the state had become intolerable, warning that those found to have aided such incidents either by compromise or nonchalant attitude will be made to face the wrath of the law.
JOSHUA BASSEY
