The Lagos State Government through the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA), has sealed off at least 67 commercial and residential buildings, as well as structures in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State. The action of the agency, which was carried out during an enforcement exercise, follows the contravention of the state physical planning regulation by the developers of these structures.
This was made known by the General Manager of LASPPPA, Mr. Kehinde Osinaike, who said that the affected buildings were sealed for offences bordering on non-compliance to building regulations and conversion of residential buildings into commercial use without the necessary authorisation.
Osinaike explained that the enforcement was carried out simultaneously in the Authority’s delineated District Areas of Alimosho, Mosan-Okunola and Agbado Oke-Odo in Alimosho Local Government.
What the General Manager of LASPPPA is saying
Osinaike disclosed that LASPPPA had earlier in September 2021 served contravention notices on the affected structures, adding that the notices were not heeded as required, hence the necessity for the operations.
He said: “125 property owners were served contravention notices, through our District Offices, in September. Out of this number, 40 responded with appropriate approved building permits. However, 67 failed to respond. This was what led to two-day targeted enforcement at the Local Government Areas by our Monitoring and Compliance Unit.
“The sealed property are mostly residential buildings that were converted into commercial use without recourse to necessary permits and regulations. This is at variance with the Alimosho Model city plan.’’
The LASPPPA boss, however, stated that some of the affected structures were partially sealed in order to reduce the effect which a complete closure will have on businesses and the daily activities of the occupants.
Osinaike reiterated the state government’s determination to sanitize the built environment and restore the Lagos Physical Planning Master Plan in line with the mandate of the current administration adding that the enforcement would be a continuous exercise in all the local government areas in the state.
He acknowledged that since the enforcement exercise, owners of the affected structures have been approaching the Agency to address the irregularities and perfect their planning permits.
Also, speaking at the occasion, the Coordinator, Monitoring and Compliance Unit of LASPPPA, Tpl. Olarinde Iyiola, stated that the 2-day enforcement exercise was to ensure that the property owners, who have contravened Physical Planning Laws and Regulations, are made to comply with the Operative Development Plan of the Area.
He said that structures in compliance with planning permit approvals and regulations were spared during the exercise.
Bottom line
This exercise is also coming at a time several concerns have been raised over the monitoring of building development by the relevant state agencies and their compliance with the state’s building regulations and physical planning laws.
The state government have been on an enforcement drive with the sealing off and sometimes demolition of illegal and unapproved structures. But this has not been able to stop the recurring incidents of building collapse in the state or the springing up of unapproved structures that do not comply with the state’s physical planning laws.
The government has to improve significantly on its monitoring activities and ensure strict implementation of these laws.
