The Lagos State Government has sealed multiple commercial and residential properties across Lekki and Ikeja for failing to comply with mandatory elevator safety regulations.
The enforcement action was disclosed in a statement published on the official X account of the Lagos State Government on Monday.
The move follows an earlier directive requiring building owners, facility managers, and developers to register and obtain safety certification for all elevators in their buildings by March 31, 2026, as part of broader efforts to improve public safety standards.
What they are saying
The enforcement operation affected more than 12 facilities, including shopping malls, hotels, and residential buildings across key locations in Lekki Phase I and Ikeja.
According to the state government, the properties were sealed after owners and managers repeatedly failed to register their elevators for government inspection, maintenance oversight, and safety monitoring despite multiple warnings.
- “The Lagos State Government has sealed several buildings, shopping malls and hotels for failing to comply with mandatory lift and elevator safety regulations.”
- “The enforcement operations, carried out by the Lagos State Safety Commission on Thursday, affected more than 12 facilities across key locations, including Admiralty Way in Lekki Phase I and parts of Ikeja.”
Among the affected properties were The Heritage/AXA on Awolowo Road in Ikeja, Mosesola House, Debour House, Bosch House, Bridge View, Elizabeth Court, 10Bou Towers, Brion Court, Footprints Apartments, Lekki Luxury Flats, and Brasas Mall on Admiralty Way in Lekki.
More insights
Chief Scientific Officer Sovi Tijani, representing Director-General Lanre Mojola during the enforcement exercise, said the clampdown was necessary due to continued disregard for state safety directives. He stressed that lift registration is crucial for ensuring routine inspections and safeguarding the lives of residents, workers, and visitors.
- Tijani stated that uncertified or poorly maintained elevators pose serious risks to lives and property.
- He warned that enforcement operations would continue until all building owners comply fully with state regulations.
- The government urged property owners, operators, and facility managers to register and maintain their elevators promptly to avoid sanctions.
The state maintains that compliance with elevator safety standards is essential to strengthening public safety across Lagos’ rapidly expanding urban infrastructure.
Get up to speed
In mid-March 2026, the Lagos State Government directed all building owners, developers, and facility managers to register and certify elevators by March 31, 2026. The policy was introduced to reduce accidents linked to poorly maintained lifts in the city’s growing number of high-rise buildings.
- The directive followed a March 2026 incident in Banana Island, where residents were trapped in an elevator for over an hour.
- The victims streamed the incident live on social media, drawing widespread attention before rescue by LASEMA.
Authorities warned that unregistered or uncertified elevators would face shutdowns and property sealing.
What you should know
Lagos’ growing skyline has significantly increased reliance on elevators in residential apartments, office complexes, hospitals, hotels, and shopping malls. This expansion has heightened the need for stricter elevator safety oversight.
- In August 2023, Dr. Vwaere Diaso died after an elevator at General Hospital, Odan, Lagos Island, reportedly crashed from the 10th floor.
- Reports indicated the elevator had malfunctioned multiple times before the fatal incident.
- Past incidents have intensified calls for stronger regulation, mandatory certification, and consistent maintenance.
These recurring safety failures have reinforced the importance of government oversight, with authorities emphasizing that strict compliance is necessary to protect lives and ensure operational safety in Lagos’ increasingly vertical urban environment.
