Tears, Agony as LASBCA Demolishes 15 Illegal Structures In Obalende

In a bid to rid the State of incessant building collapse, the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has intensified its enforcement drive by removing 15 illegal, haphazard and non-conforming structures at Obalende in Ikoyi/Victoria Island Local Council Development Area (LCDA).

Speaking at the demolition exercise, 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 property of the citizenry.

Oki further stated that the building owners/developers had been served necessary notices ranging from contravention, stop work and removal notices but ignored the orders and quickly rushed the buildings to completion, thereby posing danger to Lagosians.

The General Manager lamented that despite several engagements with the developers who promised to make adjustments, nothing was done, hence the Agency had no option but to remove the buildings, which were constructed contrary to the building codes and laws of the State.

While reiterating the government’s commitment to safeguarding residents, Oki maintained that the Agency is more proactive in its approach by ensuring thorough implementation of the State’s Building Codes and Regulations to halt the menace of building collapse.

In his words: “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, to serve as a detriment to others that plan to engage in similar acts in future”.

Oki added that for a building to be deemed safe, it must have necessary permits from Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) after which the owner/developer must obtain an authorisation to commence construction from LASBCA and at every stage of the construction must be closely monitored by the Agency’s Officials, after which the building will be issued a Certificate Of Completion and Fitness For Habitation.

The General Manager, however, appealed to owners/developers to always build in line with stipulated guidelines, urging members of the public to be their brother’s keeper by reporting any illegal construction within their vicinities as LASBCA cannot do the job alone.

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