14th August, 2021
The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) says it has demolished over 15 distressed buildings across the state in the last one week.
This is part of the agency’s efforts to achieve the State’s vision of zero tolerance for building collapse and haphazard development in the State.
The General Manager of LASBCA, Gbolahan Oki spoke on Friday during the removal of a distressed two floors structure at 12, Simbi Street, Shogunle, Oshodi, Lagos.
He disclosed that about 15 other distressed buildings had been demolished within a week across the State.
Oki said that the affected buildings were identified as distressed, saying that all efforts to prevail on the recalcitrant owners of the affected buildings to tow the line of due processes and best practices in consonance with Lagos State Building Control Regulations proved abortive as the owners allowed the buildings to stand till their removal within the week.
He explained that some of the identified highly distressed structures were demolished at Ogunbule street, Bariga; Fadahunsi Street, Ijeshatedo; Adedoyin Olushola Street, Gbagada; Ailegun Street, Ejigbo; Augustine Anozie Street, Lekki and Breadfruit Street, Lagos.
He said the buildings failed Non –Destructive Structural Integrity Test while some were haphazard and non-conforming buildings built on drainage channels before their demolition.
“Consequently, the buildings have been served all the statutory enforcement notices in consonance with the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law of 2019 as amended with no response from the respective owners/developers before the full wrath of the law caught up with them,” he said.
The General Manager emphasised that the decision was taken after a thorough engineering appraisal and monitoring of the buildings carried out by the Agency in the State, with a view to ensuring better physical planning environment for sustainable development and averting needless loss of lives and properties.
Oki added that the demolition was a signal to any would be recalcitrant developer who circumvent government’s rules and regulations as provided by regulatory provision of the law, as the structures shall be removed by the Agency and the cost of removal borne by the owner.
The General Manager lamented that people had shown disregard for the state’s laws on building construction in the past withthe resultant effect worrisome.
He appealed to building owners and developers to desist from starting a building project without obtaining a building planning approval.
Oki insisted that building owners/developers should seek authorisation from LASBCA, hire the services of relevant professionals, speak to safety commission and obtain development permits before commencement of building construction subject to the type of structures they are putting in place to make the building safe, secure and fit for habitation.