1st November, 2011
The Lagos State Government says it will publish the list of defective structures marked for demolition across the state any moment from now as a result of the incessant collapse of buildings.
Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Olutoyin Ayinde disclosed this, said the state government had declared zero tolerance for who collapse buildings in the state.
Ayinde said his ministry had just concluded updating its record and would any moment from now publish a list of identified structures marked for demolition by the state government after which owners of such buildings would be given less than 48 hours to pull down the structures themselves.
According to him, it would no longer be business as usual as something had to be done fast to prevent further collapse and loss of lives.
He called on owners of such defective buildings marked for demolition to undertake the demolition themselves as government intervention could be costlier and might even lead to tougher sanctions.
The commissioner, who received the management of International Energy Insurance Plc, who came on a familiarisation visit to the ministry, said that despite the fact that quite a number of buildings had been identified and marked for demolition, some owners of such buildings remained adamant and still went ahead to rent out such buildings to unsuspecting members of the public, either for residential or commercial purposes.
Ayinde noted that the building which collapsed on Lagos lsland recently was due to the stubbornness of some erring traders who disobeyed government’s order by trading inside the building which had already been marked and sealed.
He warned that henceforth owners of such buildings found to contravene the law would be arrested and prosecuted.
“Members of the public are therefore enjoined not to rent dilapidated or abandoned structures from anybody out of desperation in any part of Lagos in order to avoid further loss of lives and properties,†he stated.
He also commended owners of defective buildings who had taken the initiative to demolish and rebuild their houses after they were marked for demolition.
Referring to the latest 6-storey building which collapse a few days ago in Maryland, the commissioner acknowledged the efforts of the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority, LASEMA and officers from his ministry in the clearing the debris on the site of the collapsed building.
Ayinde appealed to the public to remain vigilant and report promptly to the ministry or other government agencies any illegal, dilapidated or abandoned structure showing signs of immediate collapse.
—Kazeem Ugbodaga