Royal Family Asks Sanwo-Olu To Probe Agency’s N22.7m Demolition Fee

The Iyade Oshoja Royal Family and its Estate have asked Lagos State governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to investigate an alleged N22.779 million demolition charge demanded by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) for a distressed building in Ikeja.

At the heart of the dispute is a basic regulatory question: what the N22.779 million charge is for, and which law or approved tariff authorises it.

Our correspondent gathered that the property located at 1, Simbiat Abiola Way, Ikeja, is scheduled for demolition, but the family claimed it has engaged Archistruct Nig. Enterprises, a firm of architects, engineers and builders, to professionally supervise the work.

The family, through its lawyer, Mrs Yetunde Fashesin-Souza, urged the governor to order a review of the alleged demand and require LASBCA to provide an itemised breakdown.

Fashola-Souza further asked Sanwo-Olu to direct the relevant authorities to disclose the legal basis for the alleged N22.779 million charge, provide an itemised assessment, and specify the services or expenses covered.

She is also seeking clarification on whether LASBCA will carry out the demolition or whether the owner’s appointed professionals will do the work under the agency’s regulatory supervision.

“The outcome could have implications beyond the Ikeja property. It raises a broader question for Lagos property owners dealing with distressed structures: what charges may legally be imposed when owners arrange removal through qualified professionals, and how should those charges be calculated and disclosed?

“For now, the central question remains unanswered: how did LASBCA arrive at N22.779 million, and what exactly is the property owner being asked to pay for?

In a 1 July 2026 letter to the General Manager of the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA), the firm, through Engr. Olawale Sulaiman (R52136) said it was acting for the Iyade Oshoja Royal Families and their Estate through Fashesin-Souza.

The engineer assured the authorities that the demolition would follow relevant engineering procedures and comply with safety, health and environmental requirements.

“The family is not arguing that regulatory oversight should be waived. It is seeking clarification on what regulatory service LASBCA is charging for, whether that service is mandatory in these circumstances, and how it calculated the N22.779 million,’’ he said.