LASBCA to unveil rebranded certificate of completion, fitness for buildings
Lagos State Building Control Agency, (LASBCA) has said it will unveil a rebranded Certificate of Completion and Fitness for Habitation to owners or developers of buildings that have met satisfactorily requirements for building construction.
A statement signed by the Head, Public Affairs, LASBCA, Adetayo Asagba, quoted the General Manager, LABSCA, Gbolahan Oki, as saying that the certificate would be issued to owners of new buildings that had passed through all stages of building constructions and certified by LASBCA building professionals.
Oki stated that existing old buildings that had successfully carried out the Non-Destructive Structural Integrity Test conducted by Lagos State Material Testing Laboratory and deemed stable would be certified.
The general manager added that the building codes stipulated that every stage of a building construction must be closely monitored by the agency officials comprising of builders, architects, structural, civil, mechanical and electrical engineers from laying of the foundation through external works, and fittings till the building was completed.
The general manager hinted that the certificate was backed up with security barcode and could be verified on the agency’s website.
He noted that this would not only add value to the building, but could also be used as collateral in obtaining a bank facility.
Oki assured would-be occupants of their safety as the certificate was an indication that the completed structure was built according to designs specifications, and therefore safe for habitation.
He also called on any would-be tenant or property buyer to request for the certificate from the landlord or owner of the building before payment of their rents or conclusion of property transaction to ensure the building was safe.
He urged all building owners/developers in the state to take the necessary steps before commencing their building construction by obtaining all necessary approvals, by inviting LASBCA for inspection and finally obtaining the certificate once the project was completed.
Accordingly, he warned that failure to do this would subject the buildings to serious engineering appraisal which would attract penalties from the agency.
The agency’s quality control mechanism and compliance level would translate to a radical, meaningful, and positive attitudinal change of owners/ developers in the building construction industry, to have a well-planned and orderly environment, to achieve the state’s vision of zero tolerance to building collapse, he said.
Oki stated that LASBCA under this dispensation was ready to take the state to a greater height through enhanced broad- based participatory planning and constructive engagement with the citizenry, professional bodies and stakeholders in the building industry.
