Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has threatened to demolish over fifteen distressed buildings identified by the agency in Iponri Estate, Surulere, for failing a structural integrity test.
The General Manager of LASBCA, Arc, disclosed this, Gbolahan Oki, who said that the agency has given several notices and warnings to the affected residents to vacate the area to prevent loss of lives and properties.
The LASBCA boss noted that asking residents to vacate distressed buildings so that his agency can remove them is in the public’s best interest.
He warned that the deteriorating condition of some of the distressed buildings poses an excellent danger as their integrity has been compromised and could give way at any time.
Oki noted that the state government must act swiftly to protect public safety and avert any disaster often associated with building collapse.
He reiterated the agency’s commitment to enforcing building safety standards across the state, urging residents to comply with evacuation orders to avoid casualties.
LASBCA assured the public that it would continue to monitor buildings across the state to identify other structures that may pose similar risks to avert dangers
While explaining the risks that the distressed buildings pose to the residents’ livelihoods, House of Assembly member representing Surulere constituency 1, Hon. Desmond Elliot, and Governor Sanwo-Olu Special Adviser on Housing, Barrister Barakat Bakare, implored the residents not to compromise standards but to abide by the building codes and regulations.
The lawmaker applauded LASBCA for its dedication to ensuring sanity in the built environment and implored the residents to vacate the area to safeguard lives and properties.
