NEWS
LASG Revokes Building Permits, Orders Revalidation
The Lagos State Government has revoked all existing building permits and ordered builders to reapply for validation to continue construction.
The Special Adviser to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on e-GIS and Urban Development, Dr Olajide Babatunde, said this during a visit to the collapsed building site in Maryland, Ikeja, on Saturday.
Babatunde was accompanied by Mr Gbolahun Oki, the General Manager, Lagos State Building Collapse Agency (LASBCA), and some executive members.
Report says that a building under construction collapsed on Thursday at 13, Wilson Mba Street, Arowojobe Estate, Maryland, Lagos, killing five workers.
He said: “All commencement certifications in Lagos are revoked effective immediately.
This applies to everyone with a construction site, including those in the big five category.“Return to the LASBCA office to revalidate that document, if you decide not to go for the revalidation of that documentation, we are going to seal that site.’’
He expressed deep sorrow over the incident and emphasised that such occurrences should not happen.
Babatunde who acknowledged government’s responsibility in preventing building collapse blamed property owners and developers for negligence and for violating building regulations.
He stressed the importance of obtaining a Certificate of Completion or Fitness for Habitation before occupying a building.
Babatunde added that the government would prosecute anyone found violating this rule.
He noted that the government had strict regulations regarding building construction and occupancy.
Babatunde said that buildings must be certified by LASBCA before habitation and failure to comply, a criminal offence.
He disclosed that LASBCA would increase enforcement, including using private consultants to inspect buildings.
Babatunde said that the agency had taken steps to enforce building regulations, including issuing stop-work orders and sealing of buildings.
He said that the agency was still faced with some challenges due to limited resources and hostile developers.
He called on private professionals to collaborate with the government to strengthen building regulation enforcement in the state.
The General Manager of LASBCA, Mr Gbolahun Oki, outlined the agency’s response to the recent building collapse and its plans for preventing future incidents.
Oki said that LASBCA would conduct comprehensive inspection of buildings in the affected estate, marking and demolishing those deemed unsafe.
He explained that the area affected by the collapse had poor soil conditions, emphasising the need for rigorous building inspections and approvals.
He said that all construction sites must have a full team of professionals (architect, structural engineer, electrical, mechanical, and builder) to ensure adherence to building codes.
Oki said that the agency would strictly enforce construction hours (7 .00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m.) and prohibit on-site sleeping to improve worker safety.
He said the agency would expand its capacity through a public-private partnership to enhance building control and inspection.
Earlier, Mrs Florence Agbaye, Director Inspectorate and Quality Control, Ikeja Division, highlighted the role of the department and the challenges faced in ensuring building safety in Lagos.
Agbaye said that developers often continue work illegally despite serving of notices and sealing of construction sites.
She said a case in point was the present collapsed building which had received notices and seals, but construction continued illegally.
She said that many developers failed to invite the department for required stage inspections.
“ We are supposed to inspect every construction at every stage of work but to our amazement, most construction don’t invite LASBCA for stage inspection, like the sites that we are on today,’’ Agbaye said.(NAN)
NEWS
Shettima to Lead Nigeria’s Delegation to UNGA
President Bola Tinubu will not attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly session in New York this year.The President has thus directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation, Mr Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser, Information and Strategy, said in a statement on Thursday.“President Tinubu, who returned to the country last Sunday after his trip to China and the UK, wants to focus on domestic issues and address some of the country’s challenges, especially after the recent devastating flooding.
“At UNGA 79, Vice President Shettima will deliver Nigeria’s national statement to the General Assembly, attend important sideline events, and hold bilateral meetings,” said the statement.The high-level General Debate, with the theme, “Leaving no one behind: Acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations,”will run from Sept. 24, to Sept. 28. (NAN)NEWS
NECO Releases 2024 SSCE Results
The National Examinations Council, (NECO) has released the June/July 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination results (SSCE), with 60.55 per cent of candidates securing five credits and above in English Language and Mathematics.
The Registrar of NECO, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, disclosed this while addressing newsmen at the NECO headquarters on Thursday in Minna, Niger.
Wushishi said that a total of 1,376,423 candidates, representing 706,950 males and 669,473 females, registered for the exam.
The registrar said that 1,367,736 candidates sat for the examination, representing 702,112 Males and 665,624 females.
He said that 828, 284 candidates had five credits and above, including English and Mathematics, representing 60.
55 per cent.Wushishi said that the number of candidates with five credits and above, irrespective of English and Mathematics, were 1,147,597, representing 83.90 per cent.
He said that there was a great reduction in the number of examination malpractices this year compared to 2023.
“The number of candidates involved in various forms of malpractice in 2024 is 8,437 as against 12,030 in 2023, which shows a reduction of 30. 1 per cent,” he said.
The registrar, however, said that 40 schools were found to be involved in mass cheating during the examination.
” During the conduct of the 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), 40 schools were found to have been involved in whole school (mass) cheating in 17 states.
” They will be invited to the Council for discussion, after which appropriate sanctions will be applied.
“A school in Ekiti was recommended for de-recognition for mass cheating in two core subjects and 01 Science subject.
” Similarly, 21 Supervisors were recommended for blacklisting due to poor supervision, aiding and abetting, abscondment, extortion, drunkenness and negligence in 12 states,”said.
He urged candidates that sat for the examination to visit NECO website to access their results.
Wushishi said candidates can access their results on NECO website: www.neco.gov.ng using their examination registration number,” he said.(NAN)
NEWS
NDDC Unveils Initiative to Enhance food Security in N’ Delta Programmes
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) says it is committed to advancing projects and programmes that enhance food security and sustainable growth in the region.Chief Monday Igbuya, the Delta representative on the NDDC Board, made this pledge in a statement issued on Thursday in Port Harcourt by the NDDC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs Seledi Thompson-Wakama.
Igbuya spoke at the inauguration of a training and empowerment programme for women and youths in livestock and agro processing in Amukpe, Sapele area of Delta. He stated that the NDDC was prioritising livestock training in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.“NDDC is focussed on implementing programmes to ensure food security and agricultural growth in multi sectors, aiming to improve living standards.“It is our belief that for socio-economic development to take place, there is need to develop manpower in the agricultural sector,” he said.Igbuya expressed confidence that training farmers would enhance livestock production, create jobs, and alleviate poverty in the Niger Delta.Mrs Winifred Madume, NDDC Director of Agriculture and Fisheries, said that training farmers and entrepreneurs was essential for improving productivity and market access.“The commission has been promoting research and development through various institutions and providing farming techniques to beneficiaries,” she said.The Project Consultant, Dr Simon Akhaine, said that 200 women and youths had registered for the livestock and agro-business skill acquisition programme.According to him, the programme aims to equip them with the essential knowledge and skills for self-sufficiency in livestock farming, thereby boosting regional food security. (NAN)