Lagos state prepares for rainfall, pulls down distressed buildings

Lagos State Government pulls down distressed buildings to reduce incidences of building collapse as the rainy season approaches.

The General Manager, Lagos State Building Control Agency, Gbolahan Oki, said this during the demolition of distressed buildings located at 17b, Odo Osun Street, Off Glover Street; and 20, Omididun Street, both on the Lagos Island on Sunday .

The demolition exercise was carried out on Sunday to avoid  traffic congestion and for ease of moving the demolition equipment by officials of the agency.

However, occupants was issued  different notices since 2019, with a reminder notice sent to them two weeks ago to vacate the buildings in order not to continue to endanger their lives and those of their neighbours.

The LABSCA boss stated, “We must begin to be very civil in our approach to issues, especially when it borders on human lives, by not waiting until the worst happens.

“I find it very hard to believe that some people could still be pleading on behalf of occupants of these distressed buildings for more time from the government.”

He expressed the hope that Lagosians would soon begin to follow the appropriate process of pulling down distressed buildings on their own without waiting for government to spend taxpayer fund on mobilising equipment and human resources for building demolition.

While saying that the demolition exercise would continue across different parts of the state, Oki advised Lagosians to always build safely and prioritise their individual as well as collective safety, saying such considerations remain the major way of averting incessant building collapse.

MTO/Punch