… Cautions residents against unapproved demolition of buildings
… Gives quit notice to Illegal occupants of shanties under powerline in Eti-Osa
A 3-Floor Vicarage belonging to Christ Anglican Church, on 60/64 Glover Street, Ebute-Metta, has been removed by Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA due to its distressed state and to avert danger which the building present pose to its occupants and neighbours.
Although the leadership of the church claimed that it had already commenced the process of removing the building, having sought for permission to do so, LASBCA insisted that there was need to quickly bring down the seriously distressed structure which has been taken over by stagnant water, as further delay portend imminent danger.
The General Manager of LASBCA, Arc. Gbolahan Oki through the Director of Enforcement, LASBCA, Mr. Olusoji Olaopa who coordinated the demolition of the building, noted that several other buildings within Ebute-Metta and environs have been identified and marked for demolition, stressing that the exercise is being carried out in phases and with reference to the degree of danger posed by the distressed structures.
Speaking on the compliance level to other areas visited within Ebute-Metta, Oki acknowledged the efforts of the owners of some distressed buildings in Ebute-Metta who had pulled their distressed buildings down on their own.
While describing the move as commendable, he also cautioned owners of distressed buildings willing to pull down their structures by themselves to obtain necessary approvals from the government before embarking on the demolition.
The approval for demolition, he explained, is necessary to ascertain that competent professionals would be engaged for the demolition exercise by interested persons in such a way that the process of bringing down the structure won’t further result in another calamity or endanger lives and properties.
In another development, LASBCA, on Monday, also directed illegal occupants of shanties under power lines at Jiuhua Street, off Mega Chicken, Ikota, in Eti-Osa LGA to vacate.
The quit notice, according to the General Manager was informed by the need to save the lives of the residents of the area in view of the health implications and threat to lives for the occupants of powerline areas.
Oki further stated that the occupants were given 72hrs ultimatum to vacate the shanties as prior statutory quit notice had earlier been issued to them last year without compliance to the notice given.
He stressed that the on-going demolition exercise of highly distressed structures across the State also include structures under power lines, saying that the overall aim of the State Government is to save the lives of the citizens irrespective of their locations.
Oki also reiterated the State Government’s commitment to safeguarding lives and properties of the citizenry through consistent monitoring, enforcement and identification of illegal, distressed and non-conforming structures in the State.
He, however, enjoined all residents of the State to collaborate with the State Government by reporting all forms of illegality in their locality for appropriate actions from the government.
Adetayo Akitoye-Asagba
Head, Public Affairs(LASBCA)
31st May, 2022.