In a bid to rid the State of incessant building collapse, the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) today intensified its enforcement drive by removing 15 illegal, haphazard and non-conforming structures at Obalende in Ikoyi/Victoria Island LCDA.
Speaking during the demolition, the General Manager of the Agency Arc.Gbolahan Oki stated that the buildings were removed in order to restore sanity to Obalende and also avert collapse that may lead to possible loss of lives and valuable properties of the citizenry.
Oki further stated that the buildings’ Owners/Developers had been served necessary notices ranging from contravention, stop work and removal notices when the structures were still at infancy but rather than do the needful, the owners/developers ignored the notices and quickly rushed the buildings to completion, in the process, doing shabby jobs that portray danger to the lives and properties of Lagosians.
He lamented that despite several engagement with the developers where they had promised to make adjustments, nothing was done, hence the Agency had no option but to remove the buildings which were not constructed according to the building codes and laws of the state.
While reiterating Government’s commitment to safeguarding lives and properties of the people, Oki maintained that the Agency is more proactive in its approach by ensuring thorough implementation of the State’s Building Codes and Regulations that will further nip in the bud the menace of building collapse in Lagos State therefore creating a conducive environment where buildings are safe, secure and habitable for present and future generations.
In his words, Oki stated that, “the Government will not leave any stone unturned when it comes to building control regulations in the State as Contraveners of the State Building Laws will face the full wrath of the Law that will serve as deterrent to others that plan to engage in shabby jobs in building construction in future”.
He added that for a building to be deemed safe, it must have necessary permits from the appropriate Agency (LASPPPA) after which the owner/developer must obtain Authorisation to commence Construction from LASBCA and every stage of the construction must be closely monitored by LASBCA Officials comprising of Builders, Structural Engineers, Civil Engineers, Electrical Engineers and Architects. After which the building will be issued a CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION AND FITNESS FOR HABITATION.
He appealed to owners/developers to always build by the rules and urged members of the public to be their brother’s keeper by acting as checkmating officers and report any illegal construction going on in their vicinities as the Agency alone cannot do the job without the support of public.
Adetayo Akitoye Asagba
Head, Public Affairs
LASBCA.