The Lagos State Government has restated that it will demolish buildings without approvals after the expiration of the 90-day amnesty window.
This was disclosed by the Director, Public Affairs Unit, Lagos State Building Control Agency, Mr Olaoye Olusegun, on Wednesday in Lagos.
Olusegun said the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on e-GIS and Urban Development, Dr Olajide Babatunde, made this known during a workshop organised by the agency in Ikeja on Tuesday.
The workshop, titled “Understanding Building Control in Lagos State,” was aimed at addressing various issues and misconceptions regarding the agency’s activities.
Babatunde emphasised the importance of obtaining certifications and having insurance coverage in the construction industry.
He stressed that every building in the state should have a certificate of completion and fitness for habitation, as well as an insurance policy that can provide support during emergencies like fire incidents.
“As a step towards reduction in building collapse in the state, 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 stated.
Babatunde also emphasised the governor’s instructions for owners of buildings with attachments to promptly remove them.
He stated that these attachments would be prohibited in the state as they impede rescue operations during emergencies.
He explained that the Lagos State Building Control Agency, on behalf of the state government, had proactively notified owners about demolishing distressed buildings in the area.
He added that the state government published in three national dailies, 359 distressed buildings across the state, with over 90 per cent of such buildings pulled down by the owners to avoid disaster.
Earlier, the General Manager of LASBCA, Mr Gbolahan Oki, emphasised 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 adhere to rules and regulations governing the building and construction industry, emphasizing that it is cost-effective to do so.
He mentioned that after the governor’s amnesty period ends, LASBCA will require documentation such as a certificate for fitness and habitation issued by State Building Control, proof of meeting requirements, and a certificate of building insurance.
Oki advised developers to construct buildings according to approved specifications and permits.
An insurance consultant, Mr Yemi Solajoye, stressed the need for all buildings in the state to have insurance coverage against disasters like building collapse or fire outbreaks.
He called for mandatory enforcement of insurance coverage on buildings by owners as a means of mitigating losses during emergencies.
A retired Director General of the Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr Fuad Oki,advocated increased public engagement at grassroots levels where violations of building regulations are common.
In April, officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources commenced the demolition of buildings erected on drainages in the Ojota and Ogudu areas of the state.
The ministry’s Director of Public Affairs, Kunle Adeshina, said the demolition came after the expiration of notice given to the property owners to remove the contravening structures.