The Lagos State Government began the demolition of illegal buildings in the state’s Banana Island area on Wednesday, as part of the state government’s efforts to address the state’s frequent cases of building collapse.
The exercise was carried out by officials from the Lagos State Building Control Agency, the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit, and the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority.
The team was also led by the leadership of the agencies which include, the General Manager of LASBCA, Gbolahan Oki, and the Task Force Chairman, CSP Shola Jejeloye.
According to a statement by the state Ministry of Information, the affected buildings were in contravention of the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning Development Law (2019).
It was also said to be in line with the agency’s core statutory responsibilities of identification and removal/demolition of distressed, illegal and non-conforming structures in the State.
“The exercise is in compliance with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s directive last weekend when he visited the site of the seven-storey building that collapsed on Banana Island.
“Governor Sanwo-Olu said the site of the collapsed building was not originally part of the Island’s plan,” the statement added.
No fewer than seven persons were rescued from the rubble of a seven-storey building under construction that collapsed on Wednesday, April 12, on First Avenue, in the area.