Following the death of over 44 Nigerians in the 21 storey building that collapsed, the Senate has challenged the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) to ensure that only qualified professionals are allowed in building construction.
President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan spoke in his remarks following a Point of Order raised by Sen. Oluremi Tinubu (APC-Lagos) during plenary.
The motion was on the “21-storey building collapse in Ikoyi, Lagos”.
The senate president said professional bodies, like the civil engineers, the structural engineers, their bodies, their institute, COREN, all professional bodies must ensure that only certified, competent and qualified professionals to be involved in putting up structures.
“We believe that this kind of situation is one too many because this is not the first time this is happening not only in Lagos but in other parts of the country”.
Lawan also commiserated with the people and the government of Lagos and particularly, the family of those who lost their lives or were affected in one way or the other.
He directed the Nigerian Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to work with the state government to provide necessary assistance to survivors.
The senate president thereafter moved that a minute silence be observed in honour of the deceased.
Earlier, while moving the motion, Sen. Tinubu said that in the search and rescue efforts that had since ensued, 15 survivors were rescued from the rubble and 44 persons including the owner of the building were confirmed dead.
She described the incidence as “a disaster of epic proportion, the magnitude of which cannot be overlooked”.
