The Lagos State Government has stated again that it will tear down buildings without permits after the 90-day grace period ends.
This information was given by Mr Olaoye Olusegun, the Director of the Public Affairs Unit of the Lagos State Building Control Agency, in Lagos on Wednesday.
Olusegun mentioned that Dr Olajide Babatunde, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on e-GIS and Urban Development, announced this at a workshop in Ikeja on Tuesday.
The workshop, called “Understanding Building Control in Lagos State,” aimed to address various concerns and misunderstandings about the agency’s activities.
Babatunde emphasized the importance of obtaining certificates and having insurance in the construction industry.
He highlighted that every building in the state should have a certificate of completion and habitation suitability, as well as an insurance policy that offers assistance during emergencies like fires.
“As part of efforts to reduce building collapses in the state, no building in the state should be occupied without possessing the Certificate of Completion and Fitness for Habitation issued by the State Building Control Agency, which needs to be renewed every five years,” he said.
Babatunde also stressed the governor’s directive for owners of buildings with attachments to promptly remove them.
He mentioned that these attachments will be banned in the state as they hinder rescue operations during emergencies.
He explained that the Lagos State Building Control Agency, acting on behalf of the state government, had informed owners in advance about tearing down distressed buildings in the area.
He added that the state government had listed 359 distressed buildings across the state in three national newspapers, and over 90 percent of these buildings were demolished by the owners to prevent disasters.
Earlier, Mr Gbolahan Oki, the General Manager of LASBCA, underlined the importance of the workshop in providing clarity on LASBCA’s operations and guidance on obtaining necessary certifications from the agency.
Oki urged building owners in the state to follow the rules and regulations governing the building and construction industry, highlighting that it is cost-effective to do so.
He mentioned that after the governor’s grace period ends, LASBCA will require documentation such as a certificate for habitation and fitness issued by State Building Control, evidence of meeting requirements, and a building insurance certificate.
Oki recommended that developers construct buildings according to approved specifications and permits.
An insurance consultant, Mr Yemi Solajoye, emphasized the need for all buildings in the state to have insurance against disasters like building collapses or fire outbreaks.
He called for the compulsory implementation of insurance on buildings by owners as a way to reduce losses during emergencies.
A retired Director General of the Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr Fuad Oki, advocated for increased public engagement at grassroots levels where violations of building regulations are common.
In April, authorities from the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources in Lagos State began tearing down buildings built on drainage systems in the Ojota and Ogudu areas of the state.
The ministry's Head of Public Relations, Kunle Adeshina, explained that the demolition took place after the notice given to the property owners to remove the violating structures expired.
