Lagos seals off 1,800 buildings

DUE to rising cases of building collapse, the Lagos State government has shut 1,800 buildings across the state.
According to the General Manager, Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Mrs Abimbola Animashaun, who disclosed this on Wednesday, the government has sealed 1,800 buildings in the metropolis for either being distressed or not having building approval or Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), adding that many of the affected property owners had refused to come forward to do the needful for the re-opening of their properties.
“Some of the property owners have removed our seal and we are taking action on those that refused to do the necessary things for their properties to be re-opened,” she said.
She  added that government would soon start demolishing such structures before they killed people, adding that government was ready to prosecute defaulters.
“Builders must follow the laws and comply with the urban and regional planning laws. They should come to us for advice as we don’t want them to jeopardise the lives of the people that will live in such houses,” she said.
On the demolition of distressed buildings, she said 30 buildings had been marked for demolition in Ebute Metta, and five of the buildings would be demolished in the next two days, while the remaining would be demolished after the result of their integrity tests was out.
TRIBUNE