Lagos to seal any construction site without evidence of insurance policy
By Owoleye Oluwakayode
The Lagos State Government has issued a warning that any construction site without at least one expert present would be closed and the developer sanctioned, as it will conduct site-by-site inspections to ensure compliance.
This is part of the state government’s endeavor to stop the construction industry from collapsing.
The General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Arc. Gbolahan Oki, announced this during a meeting with members of the Association of Real Estate Developers of Lagos State (AREDOLS) at the Agency’s head office in GRA, Ikeja, warning developers and property owners in Lagos to abide by the state’s building codes or face the full force of the law.
In his presentation to the association’s members, Arc. Oki emphasised that, going forward, all developers must guarantee that structures meet legal standards, such as engaging building specialists — Architects, Engineers, and Builders — throughout construction projects to ensure building stability.
“The Agency will begin site by site inspection to compel compliance,” he stated, “And any site without at least a professional present will be blocked off and the developer will be severely sanctioned.”
Without an insurance coverage, it is illegal to seal a construction site above two stories.
The General Manager went on to say that the General Contractor All-Risk Insurance Policy should be taken seriously because the Agency’s relevant unit has been fully activated to increase enforcement and close down any building site with more than two stories that does not have proof of the policy on demand.
Oki stated that the names of all artisans working on-site, such as iron benders, welders, bricklayers, carpenters, and others, must be provided on demand along with their passport photographs, and that all concrete work must be assessed by the Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory and the test results submitted to the LASBCA as appropriate.
He also advised developers not to harass or hinder State personnel who are performing their legal obligations, warning that such behavior would result in severe consequences, including prosecution.
