THE Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has told a Coroners Inquest inquiring into the November 1 collapse of the 21-storey building at Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos that the construction of the three high-rise blocks began months before provisional approval was granted. He withdrew his services via a letter dated February 20, 2020, over disputes on how the project was structurally executed. According to Olawale’s statement on oath, Osibona showed his team a copy of the provisional approval from the Lagos State government and ordered them to commence construction on the site. Disputing Olawale’s claims, Odugbemi said that LASBCA never granted Osibona a provisional planning permit when the team moved to the site to commence construction in January 2019, adding that LASBCA granted provisional approval in April 2019. “Will you be surprised if evidence is provided to you right now that work had started before the provisional planning approval was granted in April 2019?” Odugbemi asked.

Source: Nigerian Tribune January 13, 2022 08:28 UTC