By Editor

Lagos State Building

Control Agency (LASBCA), in collaboration with other agencies; Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) and Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency (LASURA) have agreed to work with Obalende residents to give the area a new look that befits a metropolitan city.

During a meeting with the executives of Obalende Landlords Association at the Agency headquarters, the General Manager of LASBCA, Arc Gbolahan Oki, said government wants a better Obalende, and all hands must be on deck to make it a reality.

He disclosed that it was established that after 100 years, there should be a renewal. But instead of the residents toeing the line of best practices, the landlords in the area started developing the land, constructing gigantic buildings without recourse to the terms of agreement and the state building control laws and regulations.

“It is evident that all the ongoing constructions in the area do not have government approval,” he said.

After much pleas from the residents, however, Oki said government was ready to give the landlords one month and

a half to present documents they have in respect of the land to LASURA for proper scrutiny and to LASPPPA to show proof that they have building plan approval.

The General Manager of LASPPPA, TPL. Kehinde Osinaike, revealed that the processing time to get an approval is no longer cumbersome, as it is now achievable within 10 working days, so long building owner/developer can present all statutory documents, which must include evidence of tax payment to the state government.

He assured the association that they would be able to get approval in 10 days, once they have got their clearance from LASURA. The General Manager LASURA, TPL. Ajibike Shomade, pointed out that Obalende has become a shadow of its former self, and one of the Agency’s assignments is to make Lagos a resilient, beautiful and sustainable environment. She said the agency would not allow Obalende become a slum within a city. She enjoined the landlords to come to the agency with their title documents for clearance.

The Chairman of the Association, Mr. Olaitan Nurudeen, appreciated the General Managers for their swift response in granting them audience. He said the reason they called for the meeting was in respect to the Quit and Demolition Notices served to the community. He pleaded with the Agencies to temper justice with mercy, as most of the houses were passed down to them by their parents.

He, however, appreciated the General Managers’ magnanimity in extending the time frame and affirmed that they had accepted wholeheartedly all what the General Managers said, and would immediately begin work on it.

Stating that he understood government’s aim, Nurudeen said it would be appreciated, if both parties could find a common ground.

Oki concluded that a serene and liveable Obalende is a task that must not fail or falter, and the time has come to work together to achieve the feat.