In response to the partial collapse of a 3-storey building at Alagomegi-Yaba on Monday, the Lagos State Government has ordered owners of buildings in the state to immediately carry out structural stability tests on their properties. This is expedient, given the onset of the rainy seasons, and the presence of statistics to show that many buildings collapse during the season.

In a series of tweets that were posted last night on the Lagos State Government’s official Twitter handle, the state’s Building Control Agency (LASBCA), disclosed that the affected building at 6, Olonode Street, Alagomeji-Yaba, Lagos, collapsed in the early hours of Monday due to the heavy rainfall in the area over the night.

Kosegbe emphasised that with the raining season upon us, owners of old buildings in the State should ascertain the level of structural stability of their property to avert collapse, stressing that statistics have shown high incidence of building collapse during this period#LASG

— The Lagos State Govt (@followlasg) May 25, 2020

The General Manager of the agency, Engr. Biola Kosegbe, noted that the collapsed building had earlier been marked for demolition. In other words, all occupants of the building were evacuated by the Agency before the incident, thereby averting a disaster.

(READ MORE:Lagos increases health workers’ allowances, commissions local production of face masks)

Kosegbe went on to explain that statistics from previous years show that there is a higher incidence of building collapse during the rainy season, hence the need for building owners to ascertain the level of structural stability of their properties to avert collapse. She added that the Lagos State Government would not hesitate to remove illegal or distressed buildings, or any other structure that is not in conformity with the State’s building laws and standards.

There will also be stricter enforcement of regulations and safety precautions to ensure that building owners and developers across Lagos metropolis comply with it, she reiterated.

She maintained that the present administration will leave no stone unturned in sanitising the building construction industry removing all illegal or distressed buildings, that are not in conformity with the State building laws, regulations and standards#LASG #ForAGreaterLagos

— The Lagos State Govt (@followlasg) May 25, 2020

Why it matters

This type of pro-active government regulation will help prevent future catastrophes that could occur in the events of building collapse. Incidents of building collapses are not alien to Lagos, a city-state with more than 20 million estimated population, a significant number of whom live in squalid conditions due to extreme poverty and housing deficits.

The American dollar dropped on Tuesday afternoon, owing to the strengthened global investors’ risk appetites as more countries cautiously ease lockdowns caused by the deadly COVID-19 virus.

The U.S. Dollar Index that tracks the American dollar against a basket of other major currencies (like the Japanese yen, British pound sterling, Swedish Krona, Euro), was down 0.64% to 99.252 by 12-noon Nigerian time on Tuesday, after global investors retreated from the safe-haven asset.

What it means: Nigerians hoping to meet foreign exchange payment obligations, via dollar transactions to countries like Europe, and Japan, would need to pay more dollars to fulfil such transactions.

(READ MORE: Why Forex trading is becoming popular in Nigeria )

But the U.S dollar upside was capped as global investors continued to track the U.S.-China relationship. Tensions between the two most powerful world economies flared up last week after China enacted national security laws for Hong Kong. 

“Markets are caught between two conflicting currents,” Michael McCarthy, CMC Markets’ chief strategist, told Reuters.

“Rising tensions between China and the U.S. are raising concerns while easing COVID-19 lockdown measures are fueling growing optimism.” Michael McCarthy added.

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