Fire outbreak danger: Why we demolished buildings in Ajao Estate — LASG
…Says affected buildings defied extant laws, built around pipelines, lack documents
…They constitute threat to aviation security, coverage for oil theft menace — FAAN
By Moses Adeniyi
The Lagos State Government (LASG) has given reasons why some buildings constructed at I.K. Peter Street, Ajao Estate, cited in close proximity to the Murtala International Airport, Lagos, were pulled down.
The General Manager, Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) Gbolahan Owodunni Oki, disclosed, weekend, that the buildings demolished were found wanting of lacking required approvals, and forming threats having been cited in close proximity around pipelines bearing aviation fuel.
Oki who feared the havoc that a fire outbreak from the pipeline could cause to lives and properties, said the builders also lacked required documents including Certificate of Occupancy (C.O.O).
According to the GM, the buildings were illegal structures constructed out of clear disregard to the requirements of extant laws.
Mentioning that the buildings had no planning permit and were built around the pipelines, he remarked that “nobody in his right thinking mind will go and buy a plot on a pipeline and build on the pipeline.”
He lamented that some of the property owners went to the extent of laying foundations on pipeline, mentioning that due consultations and communications have been made with enough time of about two years given to the occupants of the affected buildings to evacuate the structures.
Oki lamented that building collapse in Lagos had been a subject of “attitudinal problem,” mentioning that the buildings were a national risks to the Airport being “extremely close,” mentioning that no life of a Nigerian is worth being lost to the dangers that the citing of the buildings pose.
He, however, cautioned those slamming criticisms on the government to always dig deep into the right information, calling on them to hear from the side of the government, and not hastily jump into conclusion by being sympathetic to property owners, without considering the danger and hazards that the buildings would cause, should the government turn a blind eyes.
He lamented that the widespread menace of building without securing approval is a defective behaviour that the public must fight together.
The GM who called on Lagosians to report cases of illegal structures to the government, said “turning a blind face to such constructions”, would bear untoward consequences with far reaching losses.
On the reports making rounds over incidents of reoccurring collapse of buildings, Oki said recorded incidents, so far, have to do with buildings which developers failed to secure its approval for supervision.
He noted that it was important for builders and developers after securing approval for construction from the appropriate authorities, to, before storming cite for work, write the Agency for monitoring.
According to him, the onus lies on the Agency to carry out routine checks on buildings at each stage of development until final completion, upon which he said the Agency would certify the building “sound” and “fit for habitation,” thereby issuing a “certificate of fitness,” showing compliance to rules and regulations.
On its part, the authority of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), said it invited the Lagos State Government to step into the issue after several warnings in attempt to stop the constructions of buildings were not yielded by those it called “encroachers,” who took from the land of the Airport.
Speaking over the weekend, the General Manager, Business Development, FAAN, Mr. Ngwu Hycienth, applauded the partnership with LASBCA to bring normalcy and decency to the Airport environment.
Noting that airport environment is controlled not only by national, but also by international laws, he lamented that the buildings in question formed security threats to the Murtala International Airport.
According to him, the lands of the Airport were duly acquired and gazetted by the Federal Government for public use starting from 1944, extended in 1972 and 1975, as the expanse of land forming the Murtala International Airport.
He, however, lamented that the Authorities of the Airport began to notice encroachment on its land in 2015, defying the standard rule that no building must be cited close to the perimeter fence.
He lamented that some of the encroachers did not only build too close to the fence, but also had structures higher in height than the specifications, noting that there have also been incidents of thefts of aviation fuel and properties at the cargo terminals almost on weekly basis.
Ngwu mentioned that the existence of those buildings at a time when terrorist threats are echoing, is a danger that must be checked, mentioning that such buildings if not pulled down could be exploited.
He lamented that should such threats be not checked, it could generate untoward circumstances leading to closure of the Airport, which he said would inform huge economic losses as the Airport generates 60 per cent of revenue to FAAN and 40 per cent to the FG.
He, however, disclosed that on a letter written to the President by the property owners asking for regularistion, about 200 buildings were given consideration.
No fewer than 13 buildings were on Friday pulled down by an enforcement team led by the LASBCA.
