In a separate statement, the Federal Government agency distanced itself from the issuance of building permits and Certificate of Occupancy, C-of-O - two ways to insure proper construction. The Lagos State government had recently accused it in news publications for its role in a recent building collapse; however federal officials disagreed with that assessment.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NIWA, Goerge Moghalu gave the order when he visited the site of the incident and ordered the immediate suspension of all reclamation activities within the area of the incident in the Island pending the conclusion of the investigation ordered by the Lagos State Government.

A statement signed by NIWA’s General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Jibril Darda’u, noted that a news report “carried a distorted account of what transpired over the collapsed building in Banana Island. In the said publication, the Lagos State Governor was quoted to have accused the Federal Government Agencies particularly the NIWA of being culpable in the incident of building collapse on the highbrow Banana Island.

“The Governor also described officials of NIWA to be reckless in the manner they issue permits without regard to the topography of the area. He further stated that the site of the collapsed building was not originally part of the Island’s plan.

“The Authority vehemently dissociates itself from the statements and allegations of the Lagos State Government over the collapsed building in Banana Island as contained in the said publication. The information contained in the publication are false, baseless and a misrepresentation of the issues that led to the collapse of the building in Banana Island with intent of misleading members of the public regarding what had actually happened.

“The Authority categorically states that the Lagos State Government in the said publication admitted that it is the State Government’s responsibility to issue building approval. In the words of the Governor as quoted “… we have responsibility for building approval. All of the four building at the back never got our approval. This is an illegality that is real…” In another admission by the Lagos State Governor, he specifically stated that some officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA are corrupt, stressing that they would be held responsible for the recent collapse of a seven story building on the island”.

“Following from the above, it is glaringly clear that building permits are within the jurisdiction of State Governments of Nigeria including Lagos State. Therefore, where such permits are illegally obtained such faults or omission can only be attributed to the State Government that issued them and not the federal Government or any of Its Agencies as in the instant case".