Lagos govt issues ultimatum to owners of distressed buildings

The Lagos State Government has, through the State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), issued a seven-day ultimatum to owners of buildings in Ajangbadi prone to collapse, to demolish them or risk demolition by the Agency in line with the present administration’s commitment to protecting the lives of residents of the state.

The General Manager, LASBCA, Engr. Olalekan Shodeinde, gave the warning on Friday, during a sensitisation meeting with stakeholders and residents of the community, stressing that a thorough engineering appraisal of such buildings have been done with statutory notices given to the owners.
He stated that one of such buildings prone to collapse is situated at Teslim Street, off Aka Road Ajangbadi in Ojo area of Lagos, noting that the partially collapsed building has long been identified by the Agency but in spite of several statutory seal-up and removal notices served to the owner since August 2017, the Landlord has refused to comply with the directive.

The General Manager, however, maintained that the distressed building would be demolished after the expiration of the final seven-day ultimatum for the safety of residents around the place as well as to prevent loss of lives and property in the vicinity.
While noting that no responsible government will expose her citizens to any form of danger, Shodeinde decried the total disregard for building regulations by some residents thereby causing anxiety within the populace.
He emphasised that the seven-day ultimatum given to the various owners is done within the ambit of the law with a view to ensuring a better physical environment for sustainable development.

In his remarks, the Baale of Ajangbadi, Chief Murisiku Teslim, said that all efforts are being put in place to ensure that building owners in the area comply with the State government’s directive.