……… Issues vacation order to occupants of illegal attachments.
In furtherance of efforts to prevent building collapse, the State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) today marked 6 highly distressed buildings on the Lagos Island for demolition as it orders occupants of illegal attachments to buildings in the area to quit.
The General Manager of LASBCA, Arc. Gbolahan Oki said, while supervising the special enforcement exercise, that the Agency was acting on the mandate to identify and remove distressed and non- conforming buildings within the metropolis to forestall needless tragedies .
While giving a 7-day vacation order to occupants of illegal attachments, he stated that buildings in the axis were notorious for illegally adding attachments to their frontage to obstruct setbacks and make the approach to them less visible.
” Some of the distressed buildings are quite difficult to detect due to the illegal attachments in their frontage; as such we need to remove them to reveal the actual state of the buildings”, he said.
Oki lamented the spate of illegal, unapproved building construction in the area despite Government Enlightenment campaigns and stringent enforcement measures.
He reiterated that it was illegal to errect buildings without obtaining the necessary approvals and going through stage supervison and eventual certification of the building as fit for habitation by LASBCA.
Noting that the on-going demolition exercise was a wake up call to all developers and property owners in the State to build by the rules , he said the Lagos State Government would continue to come down heavily on any act of disregard for the State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law 2019 as amended.
He emphasised that LASBCA would not relent in removing both distressed and non-conforming buildings in the State, while the cost of removal will be at the expense of the owners.
Arc. Oki also noted the absence of water hydrants within the area and promptly urged the traders to install them as this would greatly help if there is a fire outbreak in the community.
The General Manager assured that safety of lives and property remained the priority of Government as the ongoing exercise is not designed to witchunt or intimidate the people but to ensure their wellness and well-being.
He urged Lagosians to continue to give maximum support to the Government by carrying out voluntary Structural Engineering appraisal on their old buildings, obtaining the Certificate of Completion and Fitness for Habitation and promptly reporting cases of distressed, non conforming and illegal developments.
Adetayo Akitoye – Asagba
Head, Public Affairs (LASBCA)
12th May, 2022.