… Gives 3 days ultimatum
No fewer than 45 residential and commercial buildings along Admiralty Way, Lekki, were on Sunday, sealed by the officials of Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA, for illegal extension of development on canal set backs along the axis.
The issuance of contravention notices was carried out by the enforcement and demolition gangs of LASBCA and officials of the Nigeria Police Force, led by LASBCA General Manager, Arc. Gbolahan Oki
Speaking during the exercise, which was carried out specifically on Omoninrire Johnson Street and Hunponu Wusu Road, Off Admiralty Way, Lekki, the General Manager said the buildings were sealed for contravening the physical planning regulation of the state, noting that the violators have the grace period of 3 days to remove all the illegal constructions.
He said: “Most of the buildings setbacks on this axis has interlocking tiles erected across canals, and this is against the physical planning regulations of Lagos state.
His words, “The owners of these structures are supposed to build according to the building plan approvals given to them. There are adequate setbacks that they should leave but unfortunately, the set backs has been encroached upon.
” This is a basic fact and everyone knows that the setbacks are no go area for any form of construction. This is why we are here today. At the expiration of 3 days ultimatum, if these illegal encroachments are not removed, the State Government will take necessary actions against the owners of these structures.
He explained that the setback areas with interlocking tiles should be a green area, stressing that the enforcement was in furtherance of the state government’s effort at regulating physical planning development in the state.
The General Manager, emphasised that having green land setbacks were specifically reserved to help preserve the eco system in the state. He said it was also part of the ways to achieve the development plans in the state and make the environment organised and livable.
He implored owners of the marked buildings to immediately remove the interlocking tiles in the setback areas and replace them with green grass, noting that failure to do so; would attract necessary sanctions according to the laws.
“We deliberately came for this exercise today, being a Sunday because we believe we would meet most of the occupants of the affected buildings. We do not want a situation whereby the residents of these buildings will say they were not aware of this enforcement drive and use that as an excuse not to adhere to government laws, ” the General Manager stated.
He said the enforcement exercise would continue on buildings built without planning permits or not in conformity with construction regulations, adding that the exercise was also to intensify efforts to rid the state of illegal and unapproved building construction.
He, therefore, appealed to Lagosians to follow proper procedure in building construction works and obtain planning permits from the state government.
Gbadeyan Abdulraheem
Asst. Director (public affairs) LASBCA.