Kunle ADELABU
In a bid to ensure that buildings in the state complies with the regulations to prevent the reoccurrence of the unfortunate incident of the building collapse at Ita Faaji in Lagos Island last week’s Wednesday which killed over 20 people, including school children and left many injured, the Lagos State Government, today (Wednesday, March 20, 2019) demolished a property belonging to a popular family in Ikorodu with royal connection to Lagos Island.
The structure was partially demolished by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA).
THE IMPACT gathered that the officials of LABSCA stormed the site of the structure located at Ladega bus-stop in Ikorodu early in the morning today with armed escorts who positioned themselves strategically around the area while officials of LABSCA demolished part of the last 2 floors of the building.
THE IMPACT gathered that the building, which has both commercial and residential sections, contravened the building regulations.
It was learnt that the structure, which is being developed by a chieftain (name withheld) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who is also an elected representative, was approved for commercial purposes.
THE IMPACT also gathered that LABSCA had served the developer/owner of the structure on many occasions but defaulted in complying to the directive of the regulatory body.
A resident in the area, who spoke with our reporter, stated that the state building officials had served the owner several notice and had also sealed the building on many occasions.
“It wasn’t surprising at all because they had been served since they commence the construction works for the building. In actual fact, I think LABSCA officials served and sealed off the place on five different occasions.
“But they continued work on the building because the land belongs to a popular family in Ikorodu and Lagos Island. It is also being developed by a state official who is an elected representative”.
Another eye witness, whose shop is located adjacently to the demolished structure, also confirmed that several notices had been served on the property owner.
“I think it was due to the building collapse on the Island that is making the government to be alive to its responsibility.
“This particular building had been served several times but we gathered that it belongs to member of APC who is an elected member of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
“Now that the government has moved into the property to act, we are watching closely to see if they (government) will act fully on it”.
A woman, who sells her wares beside the structure, also informed THE IMPACT that LABSCA officials had asked the developer to remove the last two floors of the building because they were not part of the approved plan but refused to comply.
“The structure was demolished because the government had asked the owner to remove the last two floors which were not part of the approved plan”, she said.
Attempt to speak with the elected representative or members of the family that owns the land proved abortive as at press time.
