Lagos Gives 30-Day Quit Notice To Owners Of Houses ‘Illegally’ Converted To Clubs, Religious Houses

The Lagos State government, on Tuesday, gave a 30-day final notice to owners and occupiers of residential buildings illegally converted to religious houses, club houses, lounges and bars without approval for change of use, to revert to the original use of the structure.

The notice was issued by the General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Gbolahan Oki.

The notice, Oki noted, is sequel to the distortion of the state master plan, especially residential areas by some people who in gross disregard to the regulatory provisions of the law turned residential areas to club houses and worship centers, thereby constituting a nuisance to the environment.

According to him, the removal notice became imperative following security concerns of citizens and repeated complaints of non-adherence to safety and security guidelines issued to the club owners.

Oki called on owners of buildings in residential areas that have been converted without the requisite approvals to evict such occupants before the expiration of the 30-day final notice, warning that the state will not give further notice of sealing but outright removal of such buildings at the cost of the owners.

“We are giving them one month’s final notice from today 29th of January to revert all properties converted to churches, mosques, clubs and bars to revert to the original plan or have such buildings removed at their expenses,” he warned, according to a statement by LASBCA.

Oki maintained that LASBCA had earlier identified the non – conforming structures and have served the statutory enforcement notices but regretted that those affected have either failed or refused to respond to the notices.

He advised property owners to take the notice with all seriousness it deserves, adding that nobody will be spared in the effort to sanitize the state in line with Africa’s model mega city status vision of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led administration.