The General Manager, LASBCA, Gbolahan Oki, said the agency embarked on the demolition exercise as part of its effort to reduce the rate of illegal construction in the state and curb the menace of building collapse.

According to a statement by the agency on Monday, Oki added that the building is being demolished to avert any imminent danger to public safety.

He added that the owner of the building did not obtain any approval from LASBCA, “which is contrary to the provisions of the law guiding construction works in every part of the state.”

He stated further that several warnings and notices served on the developer to stop work proved abortive, “hence the agency had no option but to demolish the structure.”

He also said that although there was a record of a request for a development permit submitted by the developer of the building to the state government, the structure could not get approval as it was erected on government land under the supervision of the Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency.

While assuring residents of the state that the government will ensure that all new buildings in the state are certified fit for habitation by LASBCA, Oki appealed to owners and developers to always build according to the state’s building codes.

According to a statement on Wednesday, the General Manager of Lagos State Building Control Agency, Gbolahan Oki, gave this warning in Ikeja while responding to reports of indiscriminate placement of building materials on roads.

Oki added that officials of the agency will commence enforcement and monitoring from January 2023.

He said, “There have been reports on the indiscriminate placement of construction materials on the roads in different parts of the state.

“I advise owners and developers of buildings under construction to build fences and gate their sites and ensure that construction materials are properly placed within the confine of their property as against keeping them on the road.

“This will ensure that the construction materials do not end up in the drains or hamper free human and vehicular movement and I want to plead with all concerned persons to adhere strictly to the warning because officials of the agency will commence full monitoring and enforcement by end of January next year.”

This comes barely 24 hours after the collapse of a 21-storey building in the Ikoyi area in the state.

A statement released by the state’s Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotosho, said the state government will be setting up an independent panel to probe the collapse of the 21-storey building and that members of the panel will be drawn from the Nigeria Institute of Architects (NIA), Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE) and other professional bodies.

He said the probe will independently investigate the remote and immediate causes of the incident and make recommendations on how to prevent future occurrences. The investigation is not part of the internal probe already being conducted by the government.

Omotoso said the state government will embark on further foundation and borehole acidic level tests to ascertain the impact on the collapsed building. These tests, particularly the borehole acidic level, is important for the entire Gerrard Road and adjoining areas.

The statement in part read “We wish to state that there will be no cover-up in the search for the truth in this incident. If anybody is found to have been indicted, he or she will face the law. It is important to restate that all developers and property owners are required to adhere strictly to all Building Codes and Planning Regulations to ensure the safety of lives and property. Those who ignore such regulations, breaking seals and defying enforcement, will surely be prosecuted”