Heirs Towers: Name of contractor means nothing to structural defects—Expert
Many building experts have continued to look at the findings of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), that the Heirs Towers on Victoria Island was exhibiting structural defect.
Business Hilights recalls that the eagle-eyed Lagos agency through its General Manager, Mr. Gbolahan Owodunni Oki, had said that the seven-floor building, located at 107B, Ajose Adeogun Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, which accommodates Heirs Insurance and UBA Bank, is suspected to be displaying signs of structural failure.
The State agency further averred that preliminary investigations have revealed that some floor tiles on the fourth floor have popped off along the expansion joints of the building.
However, whereas the company in a statement signed by it’s Chief Marketing Officer, Ifesinachi Okpagu, titled, ‘Addressing the news on HEIRS Towers’, insisted that Heirs Towers has been and is fit for occupancy.
The company said “Our attention has been drawn to highly inaccurate news reports in circulation regarding our headquarters, Heirs Towers, on Victoria Island, Lagos.
“This is to address the wrong information in circulation. She said “We state as a matter of record: Heirs Towers was built by Cappa & D’Alberto and commissioned in 2021.
Cappa & D’Alberto is one of Nigeria’s leading building contractors.
Construction quality was overseen by lAA Associates, leading chartered structural engineers.
Prior to occupation, the building received all appropriate certifications from Lagos State and other relevant regulators.”
“Heirs Towers has been and is fit for occupancy. Our staff are all at work as normal in the office.
Heirs Holdings Group does not compromise on quality, safety, or regulatory matters.”
Meanwhile, responding in an interview, a building expert in Lagos, Dr. Idowu Adelaja said “The perceived status of a construction company has nothing to do with structural defects of its product because there may be periods of mindlessness during building activities by some workers that may not be captured by the chief engineer at the time of occurrence.
“Therefore, for the fact that a company may be reputed for quality works does not remove the chances of default by careless workers during construction work after all.
He therefore called for more critical analysis and tensile test on the building to avoid eventual collapse or accidents.
