The Lagos State Government has advised owners of structures marked for demolition to rebuild them forthwith or risk forfeiture of their houses.

The State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Prince Rotimi Ogunleye while commiserating with families of victims of the collapsed building at Ita Faji Street on Lagos Island, called for the cooperation of members of the public in reporting locations of distressed structures to the State authorities.

Ogunleye pointed out that the Ministry had identified 149 distressed and defective buildings in different parts of the State, demolishing 40 in the first phase while 38 others were slated for the second phase prior to last week’s unfortunate incident.

According to him, “In some instances where the owners and occupiers have been duly served with statutory notices and evacuated, people secretly return to re-occupy the buildings despite the sealing of the structures by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA)”.

The Commissioner said LASBCA would step up the ongoing removal of the affected buildings until it covers all parts of the State, warning that Section 74 of the Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law on forfeiture would be invoked against any owner or developer whose negligence leads to building collapse.

He said the State government will soon unveil a holistic programme to address the various challenges posed by defective and illegal developments as well as the operation of unapproved schools within Lagos.