Lagos govt issues final warning to owners of 349 distressed buildings

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The Lagos State Government has, through the State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), issued final warning to owners of 349 distressed buildings across the state, warning owners to conduct a Non- Destructive Test (NDT) or risk being demolished.

In a notice signed by the General Manager of LASBCA, Arc. Gbolahan Owodunni Oki, the distressed buildings would be demolished after the expiration of the final warning 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, Owodunni decried the total disregard for building regulations by some residents thereby causing anxiety within the populace.

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“Following the above, a final notice is hereby given to the owners/ developers of the underlisted buildings to conduct a Non – Destructive Test on the Structures to ascertain their structural stability and where the structures turn out to be unfit for habitation, Demolition Permit should be obtained from the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) to remove the structures in the interest of public safety.

“A time frame of 90 days is hereby given after the publication of this notice for the conduct of NDT, re-engineering or removal of the identified structures that are exhibiting signs of distress (as the case may be) failing which LASBCA shall not hesitate to remove the structures in the interest of public safety and in line with the regulatory provisions of the Law.

“Where structures are removed by the Agency, cost of removal shall be recovered from the owner/developer as required by the Law.

He emphasised that the warning 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.