April 22. (THEWILL) – Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has ordered the demolition of some unapproved buildings in the Banana Island area of the state.
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Gboyega Akosile, in a tweet, said Sanwo-Olu gave the order on Saturday, during an inspection tour in the area.
“Some completed and uncompleted buildings are marked for removal in Banana Island today following Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s instruction after the inspection tour,” the tweet read.
THEWILL recalls that a seven-storey building under construction collapsed in the Banana Island area of the state on April 12.
Governor Sanwo-Olu expressed unhappiness over what he called an “unapproved extension into the water” in the area.
According to the Governor, several extensions have been granted by both the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, adding that “these are the two federal agencies that have been culpable for those extensions.”
“They have done these extensions even without our knowledge. We have the responsibility for building approvals and the rest of these. From what I have been told, all of the four buildings at the back have never even applied for approval.
“The legality is real and so, that is why we are going round other properties in Banana Island,” he said while speaking with newsmen.
The Governor, who described the activities of developers in the area as reckless, said the State Government will make a strong point in Banana Island, adding that officials found culpable would be sanctioned.
“Excuses have been given that they don’t have access and this is not acceptable. This is total recklessness of all of the developers and we will make a strong point out of this place and all around Banana Island and in other developments that we have.
“The officers that will also be similarly found culpable will also be sanctioned, if any,” he added.
The State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Engr. Tayo Bamgbose-Martins, on Thursday, inaugurated a 7-man technical committee to probe the collapse of the seven-storey building.
Sanwo-Olu informed that the seven-man technical committee has been given two weeks to independently ascertain what went wrong.
“So, they should finish their work maybe towards the end of next week or thereafter.
“And so, this will also further strengthen our hand to be able to also come up with a robust work plan that we can enforce going forward,” he said.
