Lagos issues two weeks notice to owners of distressed buildings
Lagos state government has issued a fresh two weeks notice to owners of distressed buildings situate within the Alaba International area of the state to remove them or have them demolished.
Gbolahan Oki, the general manager of the Lagos state building control agency, (LASBAC), said this during an assessment tour of the area on Saturday.
He explained that the demolition of some properties at the Alaba International Market is aimed at saving the lives of occupants and others around the distressed buildings.
He said, “All we are after is that the lives of traders and other Nigerians are extremely important to the Lagos State Government.
“I have seen people painting buildings that are dilapidated, that are not good, it is not painting that makes a building new. Our lives are more important.
“My mandate is to remove anything that is dilapidated, that is harmful to the people that even owns it,” he said.
As he said, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had set up the seven-man committee to look into the demolition without causing disaffection among the traders at Alaba International Market.
He said LASBCA officials were usually prevented from enforcing laws by people who failed to get building plan approvals or those who did illegal conversion of their properties.
The LASBCA boss waded through flash floods to issue stop work order on a contractor on site from the Ojo Local Government, for amicable resolution of all issues.
He assured protesters carrying placards that government had their interests covered with the appointment of additional 17-man sub-committee compromising their market leadership, for quicker resolution of issues.
Mr Oki explained why distressed buildings were being demolished and the need for some of the traders to do regularisation.
This, he said, would stop land grabbers from selling one land to several people as well as the need to correct haphazard development.
(NAN)
