Akinwunmi_Ambode must strive to finish strong
The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), has appealed to owners/developers whose properties were not covered by a valid building approval plan to regularise the property and ascertain the structural stability of their buildings.
Engr. Olalekan Shodehinde, the General Manager, LASBCA, made this known in Lagos during the sensitisation exercise for building owners at Amuwo-Odofin, FESTAC and Ojo areas of the State.
He said that almost all the structures within the area were built without the requisite approval plan or due regularisation with the relevant government agency and as a result do not conform to stipulated guidelines for building specifications and standards of the location.
According to him, the regularisation and validation of buildings were necessary to avoid disruption of trading activities particularly at Trade Fair and Alaba International Market, Ojo where the buildings were situated.
He added that the exercise was being carried out to curb the incidence of building collapse in the State, saying that government would not fold its arms and allow the loss of lives of its citizens due to builders’ non-adherence to building standards and procedures.
Shodehinde said that some buildings have been sealed at Early Life Close, Kuje in Amuwo-Odofin, while more were also served with contravention notices and stop-work orders at the Trade Fair Complex, Amuwo and Alaba International Market Ojo.
According to him, “Virtually all the buildings within the axis do not have appropriate approval plans even at the inception of the construction, which implies they are illegal buildings from the beginning; for some buildings sealed at Amuwo-Odofin area, they are already showing sign of defectiveness”.
“The Lagos State government will not fold its arms and allow avoidable collapse which will invariably result to loss of lives and property. The objective is to match-up with necessary infrastructural developments to achieve a sustainable and well-planned environment”, Shodehinde added.
On his part, Mr. Olatunji Silva-Ope, Assistant Director, LASBCA, said that the requirements and costs of obtaining the building approval plan have been made affordable to applicants, and urged residents to contact any of the Agency’s District Office or Head Office whenever notices for contraventions such as illegal conversion or non-compliance with approved permit was served.
He said, “Every property/building in the State must be validated and regularised in line with the specifications of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development. This can be done by submitting ‘As built Design Drawings’ to LASPPA’s District offices or via an electronic format of the drawings online through the Electronic Planning Permit (EPP) platform”.
He added that the owners of buildings in Amuwo-Odofin area without requisite approval will apply as built and such building would undergo structural stability test to ascertain their stability status before approval can be granted
