Eviction, demolition threats: LASBCA denies allegations, expresses concern

The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has refuted claims, alleging illegal eviction and demolition threats against tenants at 118 Apapa Road, Ebute-Metta West, saying that all actions taken, including the issuance of contravention notices, sealing orders, and demolition notices, followed rigorous due process, thorough inspections, and safety assessments.

General Manager of LABSCA, Arc Gbolahan Owodunni Oki, said this while speaking with newsmen, expressing concern over the recent media report on the affected building, even as he noted the need for him to set the record straight to prevent misinformation and undue public alarm.

Oki said that the agency operated strictly within the confines of the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law, 2019, recalling that the owner of the distressed buildings in question were, last year, served Distressed Notices.

“We categorically refute these claims and deem it necessary to set the record straight to prevent misinformation and undue public alarm.

“We operate strictly within the confines of the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law, 2019,” he said.

According to Oki, all actions taken, including the issuance of contravention notices, sealing orders, and demolition notices, followed rigorous due process, thorough inspections, and safety assessments, recalling that the owner of the distressed buildings in question was, last year, served Distressed Notices.

He said that the owners were instructed to conduct a Non-Destructive Test (NDT) to ascertain the structural stability of the building, which they failed to do, and cited that the building had been leased to a developer.

“All actions taken, including the issuance of contravention notices, sealing orders, and demolition notices, follow rigorous due process, thorough inspections, and safety assessments.

“Last year the owners of the building in question were served distress notices where they were instructed to conduct a non-destructive test (NDT) to ascertain the structural stability of the building, which they failed to conduct, citing that the building has been leased to a developer,” he stated.

The LASBCA boss highlighted that the agency’s primary mandate was to ensure the safety of lives and properties by identifying and addressing distressed and structurally defective buildings in the state, stressing that the notice issued to the property owners was as a result of an inspection carried out by a team of LASBCA’s officials that revealed serious structural deficiencies, posing an imminent danger to occupants and the general public.

He explained that at no point did LASBCA violate any restraining order issued by a court of law, maintaining that the agency remained committed to respecting judicial processes and complying with all lawful directives.

“The notice issued to the property owners was a result of an inspection carried out by a team of LASBCA’s officials that revealed serious structural deficiencies, posing an imminent danger to occupants and the general public.

“We remain committed to respecting judicial processes and complying with all lawful directives. Any claims suggesting otherwise are misleading and unfounded,” he stated.

Speaking further, Oki also reiterated that LASBCA does not and will not collaborate with landlords, developers, or any private individuals for personal gain, saying that the agency’s activities were driven solely by the need to ensure building safety, structural integrity, and public welfare across the state.

He reaffirmed that LASBCA remained committed to transparency and accountability in its operations and urged the public to seek factual information directly from the agency.

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