The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has announced a two-week ultimatum for residents of over 15 distressed buildings in the Iponri Housing Estate, Surulere, which have been deemed unsafe due to their deteriorating condition and significant risk of collapse.
Gbolahan Oki, General Manager of LASBCA, made this announcement in a statement signed by Adu Ademuyiwa, Director of Public Affairs, on Saturday in Lagos. He highlighted that the agency identified numerous structural issues, including compromised integrity that could lead to potential collapse.
Oki stated, “Asking residents to vacate distressed buildings to enable us to pull them down is in the best interest of the public. The deteriorating condition of some of the distressed buildings poses a great danger as their integrity has been compromised and can give way at any time.”
To ensure public safety, the agency has mandated residents to evacuate the buildings to prevent loss of life and property. He reassured the public of the government’s commitment to taking swift action to address the situation and emphasized the importance of adhering to building safety regulations to prevent future incidents.
Additionally, Oki urged all stakeholders, including residents and the government, to prioritize public safety and comply with the evacuation order. He assured that LASBCA would continue to monitor buildings across the state to identify other structures that may pose similar risks.
House of Assembly member representing Surulere Constituency 1, Desmond Elliot, along with Gov. Sanwo-Olu’s Special Adviser on Housing, Barakat Bakare, supported the evacuation order. They implored residents not to compromise safety standards and to abide by building codes and regulations. They commended LASBCA’s efforts to maintain safety in the built environment and encouraged residents to vacate the area for their safety.