A structural engineer has told a coroner inquest into the 21-storey building which collapsed in Ikoyi, Lagos State that he and some of the other builders on the project were not certified.
National Daily reports that Muritala Olawale who was engaged by Foursquare Heights Ltd to construct the block that collapsed disclosed this in Ikeja on Wednesday.
He was invited to testify on the circumstances that led to the November 1 building collapse in which 46 people including the developer, Femi Osibona died.
During cross-examination by A S Odugbemi, Counsel for the Lagos State Building Control Agency, Olawale said that the builders on the construction site were not certified by the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON).
According to him, “I am not COREN-certified. I do not have BSc Engineering but a Higher National Diploma from the Polytechnic Ibadan.”
He added that his team constructed the first floor of block B which collapsed.
He said however, that he withdrew his structural consultancy services through a letter dated 20th of February, 2020.
Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) formerly known as Council for the Registration of Engineers in Nigeria, is the regulatory body that governs the practice of engineering in Nigeria.
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