Lagos seals ex-deputy gov’s house, others

Lagos State Government yesterday sealed a mansion belonging to the immediate past Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs Adejoke Orelope Adefulire, for contravening building laws. Also, about 12 houses were also sealed, among them seven mansions in highbrow areas of the state which include Banana Island, Ikoyi, Victoria Island and other areas.

According to the state government, Adejoke’s building, named Adejoke’s Court, located on Gbenga Ashafa Street in Ikoyi, failed to present general contractor all risk insurance policy, which the government said would cover the insurance of workers in the building and the neighbouring property. The offence, the officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) said, was contrary to Section 48 sub-section 123 of the Lagos Urban and Regional Planning Law 2010.

Some of the buildings are under construction while others have been partially completed. Consequently, workers, labourers and artisans were forced out of some of the sealed buildings to give room for proper enforcement of the law. They were sealed for offences ranging from failure to obtain planning permit, non-conformity with approved plan, failure to observe adequate metres for the setback, illegal conversion of the building and other distressed buildings.

One of the property owners on Banana Island made attempt to resist by rushing to the site with mobile policemen but he later succumbed to the superior argument by the combined team of LASBCA officials and policemen, who sealed the building. At Obalende, distressed houses located on 32 and 17 Ajeniya Street were also sealed while another uncompleted sixstorey building was sealed at McGreggor Road in Obalende.

Doors of shanties and makeshift shops at the distressed buildings were also removed to dislodge the traders and prevent them from becoming victims of collapse building. Speaking with our correspondent, the LASBCA General Manager, Olusola Adeigbe (an engineer), who led the enforcement team of the agency, said the government must enforce the law for the safety of lives and property.