The Lagos State Government has restricted working hours on building sites across the state to between 7 am and 6 pm from Monday to Saturday.
This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Oluyinka Olumide, in Lagos on Thursday.
He said, “The restriction order must be strictly adhered to by all those involved in building construction in the state, as relevant government agencies would enforce compliance. However, concession to work outside these hours could be granted, subject to a formal application that would be treated on its merits.”
According to Olumide, the move to restrict working hours on building sites was expedient to protect the environment, combat building collapse, and promote social well-being and wellness.
He urged residents to report any site found to be violating the order.
In 2024, following the collapse of a two-storey building that claimed the lives of five construction workers at Arowojobe Estate, in the Maryland area of Lagos State, the General Manager of Lagos State Building Control Agency, Gbolahan Oki, banned people, particularly labourers, from sleeping at construction sites in the state.
Oki gave the directive in a statement signed by the agency’s Director of the Public Affairs Unit, Olaoye Olusegun.
The statement read in part, “Henceforth, nobody should be found sleeping in any building under construction after the close of work, especially at night. LASBCA officials will be inspecting construction sites across the state, especially at night, to ensure that nobody is sleeping inside any building under construction.
“The construction period in the state remains from 7 am to 7 pm Monday to Saturday, excluding Sundays. Henceforth, any property developer or owners who engage workers to carry out construction work on Sundays and beyond 7 pm on Monday to Saturday will have his or her property sealed indefinitely.
“This directive becomes necessary to safeguard the building construction industry and ensure that buildings in the state are safe, secure, and fit for habitation,” the statement added.
