Lagos State Government has directed property owners and developers to ensure that professionals carry out all building projects in the state.

Mr Gbolahan Oki, General Manager, Lagos State Building Control Agency, disclosed this in a statement issued by the agency’s Director of Public Affairs Unit, Mr Victor Olaoye, on Thursday in Lagos.

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Oki said that the aim of the government was to prevent building collapse, ensure public safety and improve the overall quality of construction.

He said, “Property owners and developers all over the state must ensure that all relevant professionals such as structural/civil, nechanical, electrical engineers and architects in the built environment are fully engaged in any building projects in the state.

“Any building project site that flouts this directive to engage building professionals, who specialise in the design, construction, maintenance and management construction projects, will be sealed and possibly removed.”

Oki also directed that all construction work should  take place between 7.00 a.m.  and 7.00 p.m. from Monday to Saturday.

He said that construction activities should not take place on Sundays, adding that no one should be sleeping inside buildings under construction.

He warned that any property developer or owners, who  would engage workers to carry out construction work on Sundays and beyond 7.00 p.m. on Monday to Saturday, would have his or her property sealed indefinitely.

The general manager also said that all buildings started in the past seven months must undergo re-certification to ensure structural integrity.

Oki stressed the need for property owners and developers to adhere to building codes and regulations to protect lives and curb building collapse.