In a proactive move, the Lagos State Government carried out the demolition of a precarious three-storey building situated at 16, Oloto Street in Ebute-Metta on Saturday.
The collaborative effort involved the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development (MPP&UD) and the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA). Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, underscored the imperative nature of demolishing the critically distressed structure to preempt a potential collapse that could jeopardize the lives and properties of its occupants.
Commissioner Olumide emphasized the government’s commitment to safeguarding citizens’ lives and properties, prompting decisive measures to demolish severely distressed structures across the state and prevent impending collapses. He revealed that prior to the demolition, the building owner received an evacuation notice following a non-destructive Test (NDT), indicating structural instability that rendered it unfit for habitation.
Gbolahan Oki, the General Manager of LASBCA, highlighted that most of the distressed buildings in Ebute-Metta, marked by the agency, failed the NDT conducted by the Lagos State Material Testing Laboratory (LSMTL), signifying their unsuitability for habitation or heavy goods storage. The ongoing demolition efforts aim to remove all buildings marked for demolition, ensuring the safety of lives and properties.
Furthermore, 42 other buildings in Oloto and adjoining streets in Ebute-Metta were identified as distressed, with owners instructed to initiate the demolition process to prevent potential collapses and safeguard lives and properties. Oki cautioned that failure to demolish such distressed buildings could result in sanctions, potentially including the forfeiture of the land to the state government.
