Synagogue church building collapsed because “govt officials are corrupt, incompetent,” expert lashes out; says 40% of Lagos buildings erected without approval

By Rotimi Akinola

No less than 85 South Africans died in the September 12 tragedy that claimed 115 lives.

The Synagogue building collapse that claimed 115 lives would not have occurred if relevant government agencies had done their job, an expert involved in the inquest into the tragedy says.

The Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) led by founder Temitope Balogun Joshua had gone ahead to upgrade a guest house within its premises without requisite government approval.

No less than 85 South Africans were among the 115 who died when the building collapsed September 12 last year.

A Lagos court wants TB Joshua, who claims the accident was an act of sabotage; his church; and the engineers who supervised the upgrade; probed for criminal neglect.

Bunmi Ajayi, a town planning consultant who chaired a committee probing the technical details of the tragedy, lashed out at state government officials for failing to stop the church from upgrading the building.

“Where were they when floors were being added to the building without approval?” Ajayi asked on STV’s Today, on Monday.

“There is a bigger issue here and it is the case of corruption by government officials.”

He singled out the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) for criticisms.

Ajayi is calling for lasting reform in the way structural engineering is practiced in Nigeria.

Ajayi said the ineptitude and corruption of government officials is partly responsible for incessant building collapse in the state.

“Quote me anywhere, 40 per cent of buildings in Lagos were erected without approval,” he said.

Although he applauded the state government for creating and duly equipping LASBCA, Ajayi said the agency lack requisite human capacity to carry out its functions.

LASBCA was created under the administration of former Lagos governor Babatunde Fashola to reduce incidences of building implosion in the state.

Ajayi said corruption and sharp practices has hindered the investment of the government in the agency from yielding the desire fruit.

“There no due process,” he said.

“This is the way you do it before. The agency will come and examine and evaluate your land and building plan. They will not give you the go ahead to pay for approval until they are pleased with what they see.

“But now, they ask you to pay upfront. And when you do that, you have a psychological belief that the inspection of your project is mere formality.”