The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) says it has destroyed at least 100 structures in the past eight months.
LASBCA said this is pursuant to its crackdown on building collapses in the state, adding that structures demolished ranged from defective constructions and distressed buildings to illegal attachments and shanties.
The agency revealed that the state government has demolished at least 23 structures in the last two months, adding those structures were inhabitable a posing danger to lives and property.
The structures destroyed include eight distressed buildings in Ebute-Metta, seven distressed buildings in Mushin, buildings on Lagos Island, a church parsonage, as well as some illegal shanties that were erected along Navy Gate, Satellite Town in the Oriade Local Council Development Authority of the state.
The Director of Enforcement of the agency, Mr. Kayode Olaopa, said the dilapidated state of the building informed the decision of the state government to act to save lives and properties.
According to him, despite the quit notice earlier issued to the occupants of the structure, the management of the school still continued housing school children, thereby exposing the pupils and the staff to imminent danger.
He said, “What our officials have done here today is a proactive step to ensure the safety of lives and properties. We don’t have to wait for disasters to happen but, instead, we nip any disaster in the bud such that reported cases of building collapse can reduce drastically.
“In this particular case, a school that houses several children is involved. The risk is even higher because these are toddlers who cannot even scamper for safety in case anything happens.”
Olaopa, who said that the building had already started tilting, insisted that the structure must undergo a controlled demolition process in order to save lives and prevent avoidable calamity for children and the workers.
