Lagos Demolishes Six-Storey Building In Ikoyi

The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has removed a distressed six-storey residential building located at No. 10 Olufemi Pedro Street, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, citing serious structural defects and safety concerns.

The agency said the building was identified during a routine monitoring exercise conducted by its officials in the Ikoyi-Obalende District, where inspectors discovered multiple structural failures and regulatory infractions that necessitated its removal.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the spokesperson of LASBCA, Adu Ademuyiwa, investigations revealed irreversible differential settlement in the building’s foundation, which led to the failure of critical structural components. The defects manifested in extensive vertical and horizontal cracks on beams, columns and slabs, raising concerns over the stability of the structure.

The agency also attributed the excessive settlement of the compound to poor workmanship by the developer, noting that repeated efforts to obtain relevant building control documentation and compliance records from the developer were unsuccessful.

Further findings showed that the property lacked the required building documents, suggesting that necessary approvals may not have been obtained before construction commenced.

LASBCA stated that it followed all statutory procedures before carrying out the demolition. The agency served the property with a Contravention Notice for Distressed Structure, a Seal-Up Notice and a Demolition Notice in line with existing regulations.

The building had earlier been sealed by the agency’s Enforcement Department, while inspections, documentation, photography and other enforcement processes were completed before the removal exercise.

According to the agency, the owner or developer failed to respond to the notices served on the property.

Speaking on the development, the General Manager of LASBCA, Gbaye Florence, said the demolition became necessary due to the severity of the distress observed on the structure.

She explained that the combination of foundation failure, significant cracks on structural elements, differential settlement and the sinking condition of the building posed an imminent threat to public safety.

Florence reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property through continuous monitoring of buildings and strict enforcement of building control regulations across Lagos State.

She said the decision to remove the structure was taken to avert a possible building collapse that could have resulted in casualties and damage to neighbouring properties.

The LASBCA boss urged developers, property owners and professionals in the built environment to comply with building regulations and obtain all necessary approvals before embarking on construction projects.

She also advised owners of distressed buildings to promptly address structural defects and cooperate with regulatory authorities whenever enforcement notices are issued.

The agency reiterated its commitment to ensuring that buildings across Lagos State meet approved safety standards and warned that it would continue to take necessary action against structures that pose risks to lives and property.