Following a 90-day amnesty, unauthorized constructions in Lagos will be demolished

After the 90-day amnesty window expires, the Lagos State Government has reiterated that it will demolish buildings without permission.

The Lagos State Building Control Agency’s Director of Public Affairs Unit, Mr. Olaoye Olusegun, made this revelation on Wednesday in Lagos.

Olusegun reported that during a workshop held by the agency in Ikeja on Tuesday, Dr. Olajide Babatunde, the Special Adviser on e-GIS and Urban Development to the Lagos State Governor, disclosed this information.

The goal of the session, “Understanding Building Control in Lagos State,” was to address a number of problems and misunderstandings about the operations of the agency.

In the construction industry, Babatunde emphasized the significance of gaining qualifications and having insurance coverage.

He emphasized that each and every structure in the state needs to be equipped with an insurance coverage that can cover repairs in the event of an emergency, such as a fire.

“No building should be occupied in the state without possessing the Certificate of Completion and Fitness for Habitation issued by the State Building Control Agency, which is renewable every five years,” he said, in an effort to reduce the state’s rate of building collapse.

Babatunde also emphasized the governor’s directive to building owners to swiftly remove any attachments from their structures.

He declared that since these attachments obstruct rescue efforts in an emergency, the state will forbid them.

He clarified that owners had been proactively informed by the Lagos State Building Control Agency, acting on behalf of the state government, about the impending demolition of troubled properties in the vicinity.

In order to prevent catastrophe, the owners of over 90% of the 359 distressed structures in the state had them demolished, according to information released by the state government in three national newspapers.

Prior to this, Mr. Gbolahan Oki, the General Manager of LASBCA, emphasized the significance of the workshop in offering clarification on the organization’s operations and direction on acquiring the required certifications from the agency.

Oki emphasized that it is economical for building owners in the state to follow the laws and guidelines that control the building and construction sector.

He stated that upon the expiration of the governor’s amnesty, LASBCA will demand paperwork such as a State Building Control certificate of fitness and habitation, evidence of compliance with requirements, and a certificate of building insurance.

Oki recommended developers to build structures in compliance with authorized plans and licenses.

Mr. Yemi Solajoye, an insurance consultant, emphasized that insurance coverage against calamities like building collapses and fire breakouts is a must for all buildings in the state.
In order to reduce losses during emergencies, he advocated for building owners to be required to impose insurance coverage on their properties.

Mr. Fuad Oki, a former director general of the Lagos State Safety Commission, promoted greater public involvement at local levels where building code infractions are prevalent.

Buildings built on drainages in the state’s Ojota and Ogudu regions were demolished in April by representatives of the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources.

According to Kunle Adeshina, the director of public affairs for the ministry, the property owners were given notice to remove the structures that were in violation, and that notice expired before the demolition took place.