Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), yesterday, said it has demolished over 100 defective structures since the beginning of year 2022, to stem the tide of building collapse across the state and its attendant effects. General Manager of the Agency, Arc. Gbolahan Oki, who disclosed this in a statement, said the affected buildings, earlier identified as distressed, failed the recommended Non-Destructive Test (NDT) conducted by the agency. He said the decision by the agency to remove the affected buildings was informed by the need to save life and property, and also prevent the possibility of an imminent collapse. Oki listed the areas where the demolished structures were located to include: Mushin; Okota; Lagos Island; Ifako- Ijaiye; Alimosho; Yaba; Ebute Metta; Surulere; Agege; Oworonshoki, amongst others. According to him, the majority of the demolished buildings were pulled down by the demolition gang of LASBCA, while a few of the structures were demolished by the respective owners after obtaining permission and approval for Self Demolition (SD) from government. The General Manager emphasised that the decision to finally remove the structures was taken after a thorough engineering appraisal and monitoring of the building carried out by the Agency with a view to ensuring a better physical planning environment for sustainable development and averting needless losses. Oki added that the agency would continue to comb the nooks and crannies of the state to identify distressed structures and remove them promptly, before they wreak havoc on the state, especially as the rains have intensified. He stressed that prior to the removals, the owners and developers had been served all the statutory enforcement notices in consonance with the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law of 2019 as amended. “We would intensify our enforcement activities across the state, identify and remove all distressed buildings to prevent loss of life in the event of a collapse, especially as the rains have intensified. “I pleaded with occupiers of distressed structures in the state to vacate and report such to LABSCA offices located in their locality for prompt action. “This will prevent the needless loss of life and property associated with the collapse of

buildings. Human life is precious and should be preserved at all cost,” he added.