Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos | August 13, 2025 — In a decisive push to curb the frequent building collapses plaguing Nigeria’s commercial hub, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Wednesday launched the Lagos Certified Structural Integrity Program (CSIP) at a high-level sensitization forum held at Tafawa Balewa Square.
The 1-Day Sensitization Programme on Incessant Building Collapse in Nigeria, organized by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), brought together top architects, engineers, urban planners, developers, regulators, and civil society leaders to address the growing threat to lives and property.
In recent years, Lagos has recorded a disturbing rise in building failures, often blamed on substandard materials, poor workmanship, and disregard for planning approvals.
Governor Sanwo-Olu described CSIP as a proactive shift from disaster response to prevention, aimed at ensuring every building in Lagos meets rigorous safety standards.
“This is not just about reacting to tragedies,” Sanwo-Olu said. “Through CSIP, we are taking steps to ensure every structure in Lagos is safe, sound, and certified. Families and businesses must live and operate without fear of structural failure.”
The governor explained that the programme will strengthen compliance with approved plans, mandate independent integrity assessments, and focus on both new and aging buildings — especially in high-density and flood-prone areas.
Certify the structural integrity of residential, commercial, and industrial buildings.
Mandate the use of qualified professionals in building design and supervision.
Maintain a digital database of certified properties via the E-GIS platform.
Impose strict penalties on developers who bypass approvals or compromise safety.
The programme aligns with the state’s Urban Resilience Strategy and involves collaboration with the Lagos State Resilience Office (LASRO) and other key agencies.
Present at the launch were top government officials, including:
Mr. Kamar Olowoshago, Permanent Secretary, Lands Bureau, Arc. Gbolahan Oki, General Manager, LASBCA, Dr. Olajide Babatunde, Special Adviser on E-GIS & Urban Development, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Housing & Urban Development, Dr. Olumide Oluyinka, Commissioner for Physical Planning & Urban Development, Engr. Oluwole Sotire, Permanent Secretary, Office of Physical Planning, Dr. Folayinka Dania, Chief Resilience Officer, LASRO
LASBCA boss Arc. Gbolahan Oki hailed the programme as “a game-changer” that will restore public trust in the built environment.
Dr. Olajide Babatunde noted that integrating CSIP into the E-GIS system would enable real-time tracking and better enforcement.
Commissioner Dr. Olumide Oluyinka stressed that enforcement must be matched by public cooperation:
“Every stakeholder — from government to landlords, tenants, and professionals — has a role. Safety begins at the foundation, both literally and figuratively.
Professional bodies and private developers at the event pledged full support for the initiative, calling it long overdue.
The CSIP rollout marks a key milestone in Lagos’s long-term vision for safer and more resilient urban spaces. With the city’s population swelling and demand for housing soaring, the governor urged vigilance, transparency, and continuous stakeholder collaboration.
“Together, we must break the cycle of negligence and impunity,” Sanwo-Olu said in closing. “Lagos deserves buildings that stand the test of time — and so do the people who live and work in them.”
INN-HOUSE☆ 