Abuja – November 20, 2023 – Viewpoint Housing News.
A dilapidated four-storey building at number 16, Oloto Street in the Ebute-Metta neighbourhood of Lagos state was demolished on Saturday by the State Government, in conjunction with the Lagos State structure Control Agency (LASBCA) and the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development (MPP&UD).
The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Oluyinka Olumide, informed journalists at the demolition site that, the severely damaged building had to be demolished to prevent a collapse that might have resulted in the loss of the lives of its occupants and their belongings.
He said, “The state government is going all out to demolish all critically distressed structures in the state in order to avert an imminent collapse because it is their responsibility to ensure that the lives and properties of the citizens are protected.”
Olumide added that prior to the building’s demolition, the owner had been given notice to vacate the property after a Non-destructive Test (NDT) to determine its structural stability revealed it was unfit for habitation. Nevertheless, the NDT proved fruitless, leading the government to decide to demolish the building.
According to Arc. Gbolahan Owodunni Oki, General Manager of LASBCA, the majority of the structures in Ebute-Metta that LASBCA had designated as distressed failed the NDT carried out by the Lagos State Material Testing Laboratory (LSMTL), indicating that they are unsafe for habitation or the storage of heavy items.
In order to protect people and property, Oki stated that all of the structures designated for demolition will eventually be demolished.
“The Post Construction Audit Department, responsible for overseeing the structures in Lagos State, is working tirelessly to implement the ongoing programme of demolishing extremely dilapidated buildings in order to eradicate the persistent menace of building collapse in the state.
Even if they could seem suitable on the outside, the Material Testing Laboratory’s structural and integrity tests has to verify that they are in livable circumstances, the speaker said.
Meanwhile, 42 other buildings in Oloto and its adjoining streets in Ebute-Metta were also marked as distressed and their owners have been directed to commence the process of demolition to avert possible collapse and loss of lives and properties.
