Lagos Tightens Building Control, Demands Insurance Certificate

LAGOS, July 05, (THEWILL) - Consequent upon incessant cases of building collapses in the state, Lagos State Government today unveiled a new building measure, which requires that builders and developers of two-story buildings would need to obtain a Certificate of Insurance.

The demand for insurance certificate formed a pillar of the state Building Control Bill, which Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) signed into law this afternoon, saying the law "will expect the builders of a two-storey building and above to provide insurance certificate as a prerequisite for government’s approval.

At the signing, the governor explained that the building control "is an attempt to curb the menace of building collapse, adding that it is now compulsory for builders and developers of buildings that are beyond two floors in Lagos to obtain insurance certificate that will cover general risk as a condition for granting building permit." 　

He added that the law "is the beginning of new era of building construction in the state. With the law, we have offered our best and we are sure it will serve as a guide as the state move forward. Insurance companies will not be foot dragging anymore to pay compensation on collapse buildings because from now on, they will be involved in monitoring building construction."

According to him, the signing of the document signified the beginning of the journey to sanitize　the building industry in Lagos to reduce the　problem of building collapse to the barest minimum.

In his address, Special Adviser on Political Bureau and Legislative Power, Mr. Abdulhakeem Abdulateef said all buildings that were above two floors and under construction at present in the state had been issued a three- month ultimatum to obtain the insurance certificate while those completed but yet to be occupied got one month.

The special adviser added: "From now on, obtaining building permit　has been removed from Lagos State Physical Development Authority (LASPHDA) and now transferred to a newly established agency, Lagos Physical Permit Authority (LPPA).　 This new body has been saddle with responsibility of　issuance of　permit for physical development across the state."

Abdulateef explained that getting the permit from LPPA "should not be more than three months while compensation will be made available for a building whose permit is withdrawn for public interest. Compensation will be made available for such buildings whose permit is withdrawn within 90 days while buildings that have additional Certificate of Occupancy (C OF O) will be compensated within 28 days of revoke."

The bill, recently passed by the State House of Assembly consists of two major innovations, including birth of two new agencies to man planning and building control in the state. Until today, the state had had an agency, Lagos State Physical Development and Planning Authority (LASPDA) regulating planning and building control in the state.

But with the new bill, the state now has two agencies – Lagos Physical Permit Authority (LPPA) and Lagos Building Control Agency (LBCA). While the former is saddled with the responsibility of issuing permits to the developers, the later will be responsible for compliance.