Tobi Adebayo
The Nigerian Institute of Architects has faulted the developer of a 21-storey building that collapsed in the Ikoyi area of Lagos.
Speaking during an interview with Arise News monitored by ThisNigeria, Chairman of the Institute (Lagos chapter), David Majekodunmi described the developer identified as Femi Osibona of Fourscore Homes, as “penny wise and pound foolish.”
“When you look at the way the structure collapsed, it looks like an implosion. There is a lot to be said about this incident. It is a case of cutting costs at the expense of peoples lives.
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“What are the regulatory bodies doing? We are fighting amongst ourselves over frivolities instead of focusing on making sure that buildings are of the appropriate quality. Enough is enough. We are putting the lives of Nigerians in danger. If you check the victims, it’s mostly the poor people who come here to make paltry sums of three thousand naira daily.
“Even the professional bodies do not know what the National Building Code is. It has been drafted by professionals in the construction industry since 1986. It was not signed until 2006. In 2021, the code has not been passed by the National Assembly. This collapse is a result of the failure to pass this bill,” Majekodunmi said.
