LASG PULLS DOWN ILLEGAL BUILDINGS ON AVIATION PIPELINES, AIRPORT RESTRICTED AREAS
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13 buildings have been demolished by the Lagos State Government (LASG) in I.K. Peter Street, Ajao Estate, which is adjacent to Murtala International Airport.
Giving reasons for the demolition on Friday, Gbolahan Owodunni Oki, the general manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), revealed that the buildings lacked the necessary licenses and were cited in airport prohibited areas and/or on aviation fuel pipelines.
Oki claimed that the builders lacked the necessary paperwork for approvals for building in that region and expressed his fear for the destruction that a fire outbreak from the pipeline could do to people’s lives and property.
The buildings were built unlawfully, according to the GM, with blatant disrespect for the requirements of the legislation in effect.
He said that because the structures were constructed around pipelines without a planning permit, “nobody in his right thinking mind will go and buy a plot on a pipeline and build on the pipeline.”
He said that proper contacts and consultations had been made and that residents of the impacted buildings had been given nearly two years to leave the premises.
Oki bemoaned the fact that building collapse in Lagos had been a “problem of attitude,” noting that the structures were a national security risk due to the airport being “extremely close” and that no Nigerian life is worth being sacrificed due to the threats that the buildings represent.
The GM warned that “turning a blind face to such constructions” would have unfavorable repercussions and significant losses. He urged Lagosians to report any instances of illegal structures to the government.
On its part, the authority of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), said the agency is happy Lagos State Government is stepping into the issue after several warnings in attempt to stop the constructions of buildings were not yielded to by those it called “encroachers”, who “stole” from the land of the Airport.
Speaking on Friday, the General Manager, Business Development, FAAN,
Mr. Ngwu Hycienth, applauded the partnership with LASBCA to bring normalcy and decency to the Airport environment.
He 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.
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