By Yinka Kolawole
Property developers in Lagos State, under the aegis of the Association of Real Estate Developers of Lagos State (AREDOLS), have pledged to work towards a safer housing development practice in the state.

Speaking at the inauguration of the newly elected executive of the association in Lagos, its new chairman, Mr. Lateef Oladipupo, vowed to curtail the activities of illegal developers through renewed monitoring.

He acknowledged the huge challenge posed by the activities of unregistered members and building of substandard structures which, he noted, had been responsible for the spate of collapsed structures in the state.

“Since the existence of this association we have discovered that what causes the problem of collapse is substandard work perpetrated by unregistered developers. There are many of them who are causing a lot of problem in the name of the developers.

But we want to stop that as we encourage everyone interested in the business of estate development to come under the approved union. Some people who are not our members would have to stop the illegal acts and come into the union, so that we can have one monitoring unit,” he said.

Also speaking at the event, the association’s General Secretary, Mr. Oluwatosin Alatishe, asserted that a monitoring team had been put in place to report the activities of suspicious developers and construction of sub-standard structures.

“There is the committee monitoring all projects in Lagos State, whether by individuals or members, because whenever any building collapses, developers are always seen as bad people. We want to sanitise the industry.

“The monitoring committee has been going around, and sending their reports to the Lagos State government. Any building that is on the brink of collapse or anyone erecting substandard structures are reported to the Lagos State government.

It is ours to notice the substandard project and forward the report. It is also for the state government to react promptly, as there is very little we can do as an association,” he said.