SDP Governorship Candidate Condemns Tragedy, Proposes Digital Monitoring and Accountability Measures
LAGOS — The Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate in Lagos State for the 2027 election, Hon. Femi Olaniyi Ferrari, has criticised the Lagos State Government over the recent three-storey building collapse in Fadeyi, which reportedly claimed one life and left three others injured.
Ferrari, who expressed deep sorrow over the incident, extended his condolences to the family of the deceased and wished those injured a speedy recovery.
In a statement reacting to the tragedy, the SDP candidate questioned the effectiveness of the state’s building regulatory and enforcement mechanisms, arguing that stronger supervision and proactive monitoring could help prevent avoidable building collapses.
He challenged the state government to explain the effectiveness of agencies responsible for building control and development monitoring, particularly the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), in preventing potentially dangerous or unauthorised construction activities.
According to Ferrari, focusing blame solely on the developer would not adequately address the broader concerns surrounding building safety, regulatory oversight and official accountability.
“A developer cannot build a three-storey building in the middle of Fadeyi without the knowledge of the state. Someone collected money. Someone looked away. Someone failed to supervise,” he said.
Ferrari argued that the incident raises questions about whether building regulations are being effectively enforced before construction activities result in loss of lives.
He maintained that the tragedy should prompt a comprehensive review of the state’s building approval, inspection and enforcement processes, rather than another round of investigations that might not address the underlying weaknesses.
The SDP candidate also criticised what he described as a gap between the issuance of building approvals and the actual monitoring of construction sites, insisting that regulatory agencies must be held accountable for failures within their areas of responsibility.
“This is not about one developer. This is about a systemic failure of a government that has spent 24 years collecting building approval fees but cannot guarantee building safety,” Ferrari declared.
Ferrari Promises Digital Monitoring, Compulsory Insurance
Outlining his proposed approach to building safety in Lagos, Ferrari said his administration, if elected in 2027, would introduce real-time digital monitoring of construction projects, compulsory insurance arrangements and stricter enforcement against illegal structures.
He also pledged to tackle alleged practices of informal settlements that could undermine regulatory enforcement, warning that public officials who deliberately neglect their responsibilities would be held accountable.
“This is the problem I am coming to FIX. I am not coming to FIGHT anyone, but to fix a broken system,” he said.
Ferrari argued that preventing building collapses requires more than assigning blame after a disaster. According to him, the government must strengthen preventive inspections, improve transparency in building control and ensure that responsible officials face consequences when negligence is established.
He further maintained that residents deserve a government that prioritises the protection of lives and property through effective regulation, rather than one that appears to respond decisively only after tragedies occur.
Building Safety Remains a Major Governance Concern
Building collapses remain a serious public safety concern in Lagos, where population growth, pressure on housing and construction activities make effective development control particularly important.
Ferrari’s comments have renewed attention on the responsibilities of building developers, regulatory agencies and government officials in ensuring that construction projects comply with approved plans and applicable safety standards.
While the SDP candidate has outlined his proposed reforms, determining the specific causes of the Fadeyi collapse and whether regulatory lapses contributed to the incident would require the findings of the relevant investigations.
For Ferrari, however, the incident underscores the need for a preventive approach to building safety, backed by stronger oversight, transparent enforcement and institutional accountability.
He concluded that Lagos residents deserve a government that places the protection of human lives at the centre of its development policies.
Hon. Femi Olaniyi Ferrari is the SDP’s governorship candidate for Lagos State in the 2027 election, according to the statement.
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