Synagogue collapse: NITP sues for professionalism

The Lagos State Chairman of the Nigeria Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Adedire Adebisi, has debunked a statement a newspaper credited to him that the Lagos State government allows the building of a house without a development permit. The newspaper (not Daily Trust) had quoted Adebisi as saying at a sitting of the Lagos High […]

The Lagos State Chairman of the Nigeria Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Adedire Adebisi, has debunked a statement a newspaper credited to him that the Lagos State government allows the building of a house without a development permit.

The newspaper (not Daily Trust) had quoted Adebisi as saying at a sitting of the Lagos High Court on the ongoing trial of the Registered Trustees of The Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) that the Lagos State government allows building a house without any development permit.

Clarifying, the NITP chief said his position was that an existing building without a development permit can still get a planning permit.

It would be recalled that a building of SCOAN at Ikotun-Egbe in Lagos had collapsed on September 12, 2014 and the state government instituted a case at the Lagos High Court, Igbosere, against the Registered Trustees.

Adebisi, who clarified his position at a stakeholders meeting of the Institute in Ibadan at the weekend urged the media to embrace professionalism in the discharge of their duties.

According to him, “It was erroneous and damaging for a newspaper to misquote and fail to seek clarification in a highly sensitive matter before rushing to the press. What was reported is completely contrary to what was said. I am a staunch follower of the regulations and ethics of the profession.

“In other words, as far as regulation is concerned, a building without development permit is not legitimate. However, it should be noted that the state government had always given room for existing buildings within the state which were constructed without planning approval to be condoled by allowing the owners or developers to come for regularisation.”