Lagos state government has warned developers embarking on construction projects in the state without due approval to desist from such.

The warning came barely a week after the state recorded another incident of building collapse, the fourth in 2006. An uncompleted building had collapsed at Ajao estate, Lagos on December 4, killing three construction workers with several others sustained various degrees of injuries.

The state ministry of physical planning said the collapsed building had already been marked as illegal for alleged use of substandard materials, contrary to building code requirements.

Last Thursday's warning statement made available to Odua Trust by the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development said there were proliferation of unapproved projects in the state, particularly on areas earmarked for roads and other government reserved lands.

"It will amount to a flagrant violation and/ or disregard of the provisions of the Lagos state urban and regional planning and development law 2005 for anyone to commence physical development in the state without duly issued development permit from the relevant authority, which is punishable under section 30 of the relevant law."

The government also noted that no tier of government is exempted from obtaining appropriate development permit for any of their projects in the state in line with the provisions of section 31 (2) of the stipulated law.

"The general public and in particular, government and its agencies are hereby warned that any such development that is without appropriate development permit will be viewed as illegal development." It warned further that action would be taken accordingly against violators without any exception.