LASBCA demolishes five-storey building

A five-story structure at 7 Breadfruit Street in Lagos Island has been demolished by employees of the Lagos State Building Control Agency, or LASBCA.

The agency's General Manager, Gbolahan Oki, claims that the decision to demolish the structure was made in order to avert any impending hazard and to slow the rate of illegal construction in the State.

In accordance with the terms of the law governing construction activities in every area of the State, he said, the building's owner did not acquire any approval from the agency.

According to Oki, repeated requests for the developer to halt construction were unsuccessfully met, leaving the agency with no choice except to demolish the building.

He added that even though the state government has a record of the building's developer requesting a construction permit, the structure was unable to receive permission because it was built on public property under the watchful eye of the Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency (LASURA).

The General Manager stated that the agency would not stop until all pertinent parties completely complied with building protocols, as doing so would guarantee the safety of Lagosians' lives and property.

Oki urged owners and developers to always construct in line with the State's building rules while promising Lagos State residents that the organisation would make sure all new buildings in various parts of the State were certified fit for habitation by LASBCA.