Building Collapse: Lagos Probes alleged Corrupt Officials after THISDAY Investigation

Omolabake Fasogbon

Lagos State government has said that it is investigating alleged corrupt practices by some officials of the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) and Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA).

The state’s Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Tayo Bamgbose-Martins, who disclosed this during a media briefing, at the weekend, said the move became imperative following the allegation of malfeasance against LASPPPA and LASBCA officials in THISDAY investigation.

He said the government was not oblivious of the fact that while some officials act to uphold professionalism and good ethics, there might be few others who compromise their positions and collude with others to denigrate the system.

He said that the two agencies, which had been doing their best to sanitise the Lagos building industry, had been mandated to fish out the bad eggs within their fold, assuring that such erring officers would be made to face punitive actions in line with the public service rule.

Bamgbose-Martins also urged members of the public to embrace the ethics of building right and shun the temptation of making recourse to underhand practices.

He implored them to be weary of touts who sometimes parade themselves as officers.

He said that the government had made it mandatory for all members of staff to conspicuously wear their identity cards for easy identification.

He also said government had increased the number of LASPPPA/LASBCA district offices, devolved approval powers to the district level and embarked on the adoption of e-planning permit and automation of processes of the ministry and its agencies to eradicate delays and remove undue interference in the approval process.

The commissioner also assured Lagosians of the unwavering commitment of the state government to livable, organised and sustainable building industry through seamless and effective regulatory procedures as demanded by the smart city drive of the administration.