Lagos State Government Speaks On Demolition Of 13 Buildings In Ajao Estate

Lagos State Government has opened up on the demolition of 13 residential buildings at Rockview Street, Ajao Estate, saying the buildings were illegally constructed along fuel pipelines.

Speaking on behalf of the state government, the General Manager of Lagos State Building Control Agency [LASBCA], Gbolahan Oki, said the houses which were close to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport did not have planning permits before they were built.

Oki stated that the buildings did not have the required approvals and were cited around Airport restricted areas while some are cited on aviation fuel pipelines.

While describing the situation as a disaster waiting to happen, Oki expressed fear of a possible fire outbreak from the pipeline in future which he said could result in loss of lives and properties.

He said the builders also lacked the necessary documents as approvals for construction in that area.

According to the LASBCA boss, the buildings were illegally constructed out of clear disregard for the requirements of extant laws.

He said, “Nobody in his right thinking mind will go and buy a plot on a pipeline and build on the pipeline.”

He stated that due consultations and communications have been made with enough time off over eight years, 2016, given to the occupants of the affected buildings to evacuate the structures.

Oki lamented over the spate of building collapse in Lagos, blaming it on basically, “attitudinal problem.”

He described the buildings on the land as a “National risk” to the airport being “extremely close”, stressing that “no life of a Nigerian is worth being lost to the dangers that the citing of the buildings pose.”

Meanwhile, Igbo youths under the aegis of Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, COSEYL, have expressed rage over the demolition of the buildings.

The youths accused Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of fanning the embers of ethnic hostilities in the state.