Again Lagos Building Control (LASBCA) to demolish distressed buildings in Lagos

The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has again demonstrated its commitment to ensuring safety in the built environment by planning to demolish another distressed building in Lagos Mainland. This move comes barely five days after the agency demolished 13 illegal buildings at I.K Peter Street, Ajao Estate.

The building in question is a critically distressed two floors structure located at 48, Raimi Oladimeji Street, Off Brickfield, Apapa-Road. According to the agency’s findings, the property is an abandoned structure that is already showing visible signs of distress such as cracks, exposed reinforcement of beams, slabs and columns, spamming of concretes, and dampness on the ground floor area.

It is important to note that the demolition of such buildings is not an arbitrary decision by the agency. It is based on thorough investigations and assessments carried out by trained professionals to ensure the safety of occupants, neighboring properties, and the general public. The agency has also ensured that all statutory notices have been served on the owner of the building before any action is taken.

This move by LASBCA is commendable as it shows the agency’s commitment to enforcing building regulations and ensuring that buildings in Lagos state meet the required standards for safety. 

The Lagos state government has been working tirelessly to address the issue of building collapse in the state, which has claimed several lives and resulted in the loss of properties worth billions of Naira.

One of the major causes of building collapse in Lagos state is the use of substandard building materials and poor construction practices. This underscores the importance of strict enforcement of building regulations to ensure that buildings are constructed using standard materials and procedures.

However, it is not just the responsibility of the government to ensure that buildings in Lagos state meet the required standards for safety. Property owners and developers also have a critical role to play in ensuring that their buildings are constructed in compliance with building regulations. They must ensure that they engage the services of qualified professionals and use standard materials during the construction process.