LASG meets Iponri residents over demolition of distressed buildings

THE Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) and the Lagos Building Investment Company Plc (LBIC) have met with residents of Iponri Housing Estate, whose buildings have been marked for demolition due to their distressed conditions.

According to media reports, the meeting, held at LASBCA's auditorium in Ikeja, was aimed at ensuring the swift evacuation of the affected residents following a two-week ultimatum issued for them to vacate the affected buildings.

The General Manager of LASBCA, Gbolahan Oki, said the planned demolition was not a witch-hunt but a necessary step for the safety of life and property and to reduce the risk of collapses in the State.

Oki stressed that LASBCA is working diligently with LBIC to ensure the affected residents are adequately relocated within the stipulated evacuation period.  According to him, this will help mitigate the impact of the eviction on the residents.

On his part, the Managing Director of LBIC, Olusola Falaye, assured the residents that the company would do everything possible to ensure they are adequately relocated and settlement agreements are reached.

Falaye further stated that LBIC would partner with relevant agencies in the built environment to assess all estates across the State, ascertain the structural stability of buildings, and prevent future collapses.

The Chairman of Surulere Local Council, Sulaiman Yusuf, commended LASBCA's efforts to address the menace of building collapses in the State. He also praised the Agency for tackling the illegality in the built sector and appealed for the original allottees to be given back their buildings after reconstruction.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Community Development Association (CDA) in Iponri Estate, Ogunlana Abiodun, thanked LASBCA for its prompt response to the affected residents' requests, urging the State Government to fulfil its promises.

Meanwhile, an ad hoc committee was established during the meeting, comprising seven Iponri Housing Estate stakeholders, who will work directly with LBIC management to ensure the smooth relocation and reintegration of the affected residents.