Lagos gives 30- day ultimatum on buildings illegally converted to churches, bars
• Moves against sand filling of drainages
LAGOS State government has given a 30- day final notice to owners/ occupiers of residential buildings illegally converted, without approval for change of use, to churches, mosques, club houses, lounges and bars across the state.
The ultimatum mandates the owners to revert to the original use of the structure. General Manager of the State Building Control Agency ( LASBCA), Gbolahan Owodunni Oki, who gave the notice in his office, said it applies to all structures used as bars, club houses or religious centers located within residential areas, and without requisite permit from relevant authorities.
Oki said the notice was sequel to distortion of the Lagos State master plan, especially residential areas, by some people, who, in gross disregard of regulatory provisions of the law, turned residential areas to club houses and worship centres, thereby constituting a nuisance to the environment.
He said the notice became imperative, following repeated complaints over nonadherence to safety and security guidelines issued to club owners According to him, owners of buildings in residential areas, which have been converted to churches, mosques, clubs, bars or lounges without requisite approvals, should evict occupants before expiration of the notice. He warned that the state will give no further notice of sealing but outright removal of such non- conforming buildings at a cost to the owners.
“We are giving them one month’s final notice from January 29, to revert all properties converted to churches, mosques, clubs and bars to the original plan or have such buildings removed at their expenses,” he said.
Oki maintained that LASBCA had earlier identified illegal and non - conforming structures and had served statutory enforcement notices. But those who were affected either failed or refused to respond to the notices; hence the serving of a final notice.
According to him, people in areas designated as residential, especially the elderly in the Lekki axis and environs, have repeatedly called on the state government to save their souls. This followed the adverse effects illegal conversions of properties was having on their health and the security of the areas.
He advised property owners to take the notice with deserved seriousness, as nobody would be spared in the effort to sanitise the state, in line with the mega city vision of Governor Babajide SanwoOlu.
MEANWHILE, the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources has vowed to take action against individuals or real estate firms accused of sand filling canals in the state.
This followed a trending video of sand filling activities at the back of Lakeview 2, on Orchid Road, Lekki.
Recall that there has been sand filling of canals to create more land for estate expansion in parts of Orchid Road, especially at the back of Lakeview Estate.