Why We Demolished 13 Buildings In Ajao Estate – Lagos Govt

Lagos State Government has given reasons for demolishing 13 illegal buildings in Ajao Estate, Oshodi-Isolo area of the State.

The state government also described as unfounded the rumours making the rounds which attributed the demolition exercise to tribal reasons.

The state government through Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) pulled down the 13 illegal buildings on Friday, April 28, 2023.

Addressing members of the Press about the demolished structures during a Press Parley, the General Manager of LASBCA, Arc. Gbolahan Owodunni Oki said that all buildings in Lagos State must conform with relevant laws guiding physical development and building construction.

Oki added that the demolition exercise carried out by the enforcement and compliance team of the agency was aimed at ensuring that buildings in Lagos State are designed, constructed and maintained to high standards of safety in order to avoid loss of lives and properties.

He also stated that the removal of the 13 illegal structures signifies that the state government prioritizes lives of its residents, stressing that the action of the government and the ongoing demolition of several other illegal structures in different parts of the State will send strong signal to recalcitrant practitioners in the property sector and the entire residents of the State.

He averred that the agency has been sending letters to the owner of the properties since 2016 to vacate the area but they fail to comply. “Several meetings have been held to have a peace talk, yet, they turned  deaf ears hoping that there is nothing that the government can do.”

Oki stated that the Lagos State Government will not fold its harms and allow its residents to lose their lives as a result of failure of an individual to do the needful and obtain necessary permits on their properties.

Approval

While urging developers and property owners to ensure they get approval of appropriate government agencies before embarking on building projects in order to prevent loss of lives and properties, the General Manager told property owners within the vicinity of the demolished structures that the action taken by the government was not targeted at law-abiding residents of the area.

He explained that the procedures involved in embarking on building construction start from obtaining a planning permit from the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) before approaching LASBCA with copies of the approved planning permit.