LAGOS State government through the State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) at the weekend shutdown eight more houses at Ebute Metta and Surulere areas of the state for failing to comply with building laws.
The agency in collaboration with Task Force officials equally arrested nine people found working on site during the enforcement exercise.
LABSCA had, last week, shut down a Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, and several buildings in Ajegunle area of the state.
The houses in Ebute Metta and Surulere were shut down at the weekend for various offences, ranging from not obtaining a building permit, breaking government seals, adding additional floor without approval, among others.
One of the affected buildings located at No.28 Adegbenro Street, Iwaya, Yaba was shut down for failing to obtain a permit and breaking government’s seal; while another building on 2 Araoti Street was shut down for adding an additional floor to the existing three-storey building without approval and for breaking government’s seal.
A Gas Plant being constructed in a residential area on Borno Way, Ebute Metta was also shut for not being approved, while another four-storey building at 9 Coates Street, Ebute Metta was shut down for adding the fourth floor without approval.
A house at No. 1, Rasak Balogun Street, Surulere was shut down after it was illegally inhabited by squatters who paid money to live inside.
A building being used as a guest house had over 40 people evacuated from there, with the affected people claiming to be paying up to N20,000 monthly to live inside, even after the building was sealed in 2017 for being distressed.
General Manager, LASBCA, Engr. Olalekan Shodeinde, while speaking on the enforcement, said the law made it clear that before erecting a building, the developer must obtain a plan approval, noting that most of the buildings shutdown did not have such approval.
According to him, all the buildings had been previously sealed but lamented that their owners broke government’s seals to continue development illegally, describing such act as a criminal offence punishable under the law.
Shodeinde, who was represented by Head, Enforcement Department (LASBCA), Engr. Oyewole Ganiu said the building at 1, Rasak Balogun Street was shut down last year because it was distressed and that government did not want to lose any life.
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He recalled that the owner had been told to carry out integrity test on the property, but refused, saying that government was shocked that the building had been rented out to people as a guest house.
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