Building collapse: LASG demolishes distressed structures

The affected buildings include units of three and four flats in the Oke-Arin and Doherty Streets of Lagos Island and four-floor one-unit residential buildings in the Idi Araba areas of the state among others, according to a statement on Tuesday.

The General Manager, LASBCA, Gbolahan Oki, said the exercise was part of the routine mandate of the agency to bring to the lowest minimum the incidence of collapsed buildings and avoidable death of Lagos residents.

Oki, who was represented during the evacuation exercise by the Director of Enforcement, LASBCA, Mr Olusoji Olaopa, said the agency had marked the buildings as unfit for habitation earlier and the occupants were expected to have vacated the buildings for their safety and the safety of others around them.

Oki stated that the evacuation and partial demolition carried out by the agency became necessary to compel the occupants of the distressed buildings to relocate to safer accommodations, explaining that the evacuation and partial demolition exercise was the last move by the agency before the final demolition.

“The administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu frowns on the avoidable loss of lives and property of residents of the state. It is time for Lagosians to take their safety seriously and avoid blaming the government at all times,” he added.

He assured residents of the state that the agency will relentlessly continue to pursue its vision and goal of ensuring that all buildings across the state are fit for habitation and constitute no risk to other nearby structures.

One of the residents of the affected buildings in the Oke-Arin area of the state, Mr Rabiu Jamiu, confirmed that the officials of LASBCA had earlier served evacuation notice on the occupants of the building.