…….. Evacuates residents of another highly distressed building.
In a bid to avert an imminent building collapse, the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) today demolished a 4 floor highly distressed and defective building at 70/72 Martins Street, Lagos Island Local Government Area the State.
Speaking on the demolition, the General Manager of LASBCA, Arc. Gbolahan Owodunni Oki stated that the building had to be pulled down after a thorough engineering appraisal which confirmed that it was weak and no longer fit for habitation.
The General Manager also averred that if left unchecked, it would eventually collapse leading to possible loss of lives and properties in the area.
He maintained that prior to the demolition, occupants had been served all appropriate notices and given enough time to vacate which they refused but instead continued to occupy the building disregarding the dangers it posed even to other residents of the area.
Speaking further, Arc. Gbolahan Oki said that residents of another building at Breadfruit Street also at Lagos Island which had earlier been captured as distressed during routine checks by the officials of the Agency were also evacuated pending the results of a Non Destructive Test (NDT) to ascertain the stability of the building.
He explained that the Agency is being proactive by taking these measures so to prevent needless losses of both human and material resources in the State.
While reiterating the Agency’s commitment in safeguarding the lives and properties of the citizenry through thorough monitoring of building constructions and prompt removal of illegal and non conforming buildings, Arc. Oki appealed to the building public to always abide by the building laws and codes of the State.
He also appealed to owners/developers and residents of distressed and defective structures to report such and vacate immediately, this he said will go a long way to nip in the bud cases of collapse especially during the raining season.
He reassured the public that the Agency will continue to carry out its responsibilities without fear or favor in order to ensure that all buildings within the State are deemed structurally fit, safe and secure for habitation.
Adetayo Akitoye Asagba
Chief Public Affairs Officer
LASBCA