Lagos LASBCA: 360 Distressed Buildings Identified for Removal

• The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has identified 360 distressed buildings across Lagos State.
• LASBCA General Manager Florence Gbaye stated the government intends to remove these structures to protect lives and property.
• Gbaye emphasized the critical role of building regulations, professional oversight, and public reporting in ensuring construction safety.
• The agency previously reported identifying over 350-360 distressed structures some months ago.
• Discussions at the event also highlighted Nigeria's severe housing crisis and the need for sustainable, accessible housing solutions.

Gbaye clarified that building regulations are not designed to impede property owners but rather to act as essential safeguards for families, investments, and the broader community.

The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has recently disclosed that 360 buildings across Lagos State have been officially categorized as distressed structures. This significant figure was revealed by Florence Gbaye, the General Manager of LASBCA, during her address at the Annual Lecture Awards organized by the Property and Environment Writers Association of Nigeria in Ikeja, Lagos. The announcement underscores a growing concern within the state regarding the safety and structural integrity of its urban infrastructure.

Gbaye emphasized the government's unwavering commitment to addressing this issue, stating that all necessary measures are being taken to remove these hazardous buildings. The primary objective behind these actions is to safeguard both human lives and valuable property. She further noted that the agency had previously published similar findings some months prior, indicating that between 350 and 360 buildings had already been identified as distressed at that time, reinforcing the ongoing nature of this challenge.

In light of the prevalence of distressed structures in Lagos, Gbaye underscored the critical importance of stringent building regulations and robust professional oversight to protect residents and their assets. She highlighted the integral role played by agencies such as the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority in ensuring that all construction projects adhere strictly to approved planning requirements. This emphasis serves as a clear directive that developers and individuals must secure all requisite building approvals before commencing any construction work.

LASBCA's General Manager issued a call to action, urging professionals within the built environment, journalists, and the general public to collectively assume responsibility for identifying and reporting any buildings that either contravene construction regulations or pose potential safety hazards. Gbaye clarified that building regulations are not designed to impede property owners but rather to act as essential safeguards for families, investments, and the broader community. She also appealed to the media to intensify public awareness campaigns concerning building approval processes and construction safety, asserting that an informed populace and strict adherence to regulations are fundamental to fostering safe and sustainable communities, thereby aiding in building collapse prevention Nigeria.

Beyond the immediate concern of distressed buildings, the event also served as a platform to discuss wider housing issues. Gbaye encouraged young Nigerians to proactively plan for homeownership from an early age, challenging the perception that owning a home is an unattainable aspiration due to escalating property costs. She pointed out that greater access to information, diligent early financial planning, and the availability of diverse housing options could make homeownership a realistic goal for younger generations. She suggested that initiating the homeownership journey around the age of 30 could provide individuals with several decades to distribute their payments, thereby facilitating property acquisition through manageable monthly contributions.

The Chairman of the Property and Environment Writers Association of Nigeria, Mrs. Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie, further contextualized the discussions by noting Nigeria's persistent and severe housing crisis. This crisis, she explained, is exacerbated by rapid urbanization, continuous population growth, rising construction expenses, inadequate infrastructure, and a limited supply of affordable homes, leaving decent housing out of reach for millions. Iroegbu-Chikezie advocated for a comprehensive approach that extends beyond merely constructing more houses, emphasizing the need to embrace smarter planning, sustainable construction methods, innovative financing models, and policies designed to make quality housing accessible to low- and middle-income earners. She concluded that the principle of sustainability must become a central tenet in all future housing development initiatives.

Lawyers and compliance officers in Lagos should advise clients on the heightened risk of demolition orders for properties identified as distressed. This development signals increased enforcement of building regulations by LASBCA, necessitating due diligence on property compliance and potential liability for owners of non-compliant or structurally unsound buildings.

Source: Original reporting via PUNCH