Lagos issues 2-week ultimatum to residents of distressed buildings in Surulere
Several notices and warnings were said to have been issued to the affected residents before the final order
The Lagos State Government has issued a two-week ultimatum to residents of 15 distressed buildings in the Iponri Housing Estate, Surulere, to vacate the premises due to compromised structural integrity.
The General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Arc. Gbolahan Oki, announced the two-week deadline, warning of the potential danger posed by these buildings if not promptly demolished.
The disclosure was contained in a statement on LASBCA’s official X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday.
Oki noted that several notices and warnings had been issued to the affected residents before the final order. He explained that the deteriorating state of the buildings poses severe risks, making their immediate evacuation crucial for public safety.
The statement was accompanied by three pictures showing the distressed buildings slated for demolition, comprising two-storey blocks of residential flats.
“The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has identified over fifteen distressed buildings to be pulled down by the agency due to their distressed condition.
“This was disclosed by the General Manager of LASBCA, Arc. Gbolahan Oki who said that the agency has given several notices and warning to the affected residents to vacate the area to prevent loss of lives and properties.
“LASBCA boss noted that asking residents to vacate distressed buildings to enable his agency remove them is in the best interest of the public,” the statement read in part.
The Lagos State Government, through the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), is working diligently to prevent building collapses and protect lives across the state.
LASBCA’s mandate involves proactively monitoring and addressing distressed buildings, and it has been conducting ongoing monitoring activities to identify such structures and ensure the safe evacuation of residents.
Recently, LASBCA evacuated occupants from a critically distressed building at No. 5 Estapor Avenue, Sholuyi, Gbagada, in the Kosofe area, which was crucial in averting a potential collapse and protecting lives and property. Additionally, the agency successfully removed severely compromised buildings on Ashogbon Street, Isale Eko, Lagos Island, on October 15, demonstrating its proactive commitment to public safety.
In another instance, a two-story building at No. 20 Amusu Street, Moshalasi, Apapa, Sari Iganmu, collapsed last week, but fortunately, there were no casualties as LASBCA had previously evacuated the residents after identifying the structure as distressed.
Hon. Desmond Elliot, a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Surulere Constituency 1, and Governor Sanwo-Olu’s Special Adviser on Housing, Barrister Barakat Bakare, emphasized the risks posed by compromised structures and urged residents to comply with building codes and safety regulations.
LASBCA has reassured the public that it will continue monitoring buildings across Lagos to identify other potentially dangerous structures, and stressed that evacuating residents from distressed buildings allows the agency to act swiftly in safeguarding lives and public safety.
These actions reflect the government’s commitment to proactive safety measures and fostering a safer built environment across Lagos State. More
