Recertification of Ongoing Development Work in Ikoyi/Victoria Island Model City

In case you have not heard, there has been at least a dozen cases of collapsed building in Lagos State in the last one year.
The causes were majorly attributed to non-compliance of building owners/developers to the original approved plan. So who is to blame, the government or building owners.One party argues that building owners/developers are suppose to adhere strictly to approved building plan, well this is absolutely correct. But even this owners/developers think even when they make alterations, they are minor and that they are not done without the approval of the site inspector. Its is only logical for one to think that even when building owners/developers get an approved plan and decide to build something else, the State government under Physical and Planning Laws and Regulations have the right to inspect and stop an ongoing project if they found out anything was wrong with such project.
Well since nobody will accepts blames for these kind of incidences, I will advices that the next time you want to rent an apartment in Lagos, you sneak in a harmer just to do some little test on the walls, you never can tell.
For this problem to be eradicated, the Lagos State Government issued a public notice on the 15th of October, 2007 concerning ongoing projects in Ikoyi/Victoria island Model city.
Press Release:

LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT MINISTRY OF PHYSICAL PLANNING & URBAN DEVELOPMEMNT THE SECRETARIAT, ALAUSA, IKEJA

Recertification of ongoing work within ikoyo/victoria island model city Following the observation of deliberate attempt to distort the ikoyi/victoria island Model City Plan by some unscrupulous Developers, the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development is further constrained to demand for a compulsory recertificaton of the ongoing development projects within the Model City.
By the provision of Section 3, Sub-section 1 and 4 (e), (h) of the Lagos state Urban and regional Planning and Development Law 2005, the Ministry has the responsibility to ensure the implementation of Physical Planning policies and execute such other planning function as may be assigned to it by the Governor of the Lagos State.Consequently, all Owners/Developers and/or Contractors of ongoing development projects within the Ikoyi/Victoria Island Model City are enjoined to submit the under listed documents for the purpose of the exercise.a) A copy of the approved Architectural and Structural Plan for such projects) Evidence of required clearance from other relevant Agencies of the State Government.All the affected Owners/Developers and/or Contractors of such projects are Herby warned to heed this directives, as non-compliance will be met with appropriate sanctions under the State Physical Planning Law Regulations.All Submissions MUST be forwarded to the office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical Planning & Urban Development within 30days of this publication.Signed:
TPL. Francisco Bolaji Abosede Honourable Commissioner

Its is not uncommon for people to pay rent for uncompleted buildings in Nigeria, especially Lagos State.so be careful what you pay for, make sure not just the plan is approved but the structure as well.You can do this by going to the Lagos State Ministry Physical Planning & urban Development, The Secretariat Alausa Ikeja to make enquiries about the property in question.