Lagos Govt Demolishes Unsafe Building After Structural Defects Detected

The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has evacuated occupants of a distressed residential building at Akinyele Bus Stop in Abesan Estate and commenced its demolition after the structure was declared unsafe for human habitation.

The agency said the intervention followed a distress call from a concerned resident who reported visible signs of structural failure through LASBCA’s toll-free line, warning that the building was at risk of imminent collapse.

Speaking during the exercise on Saturday, the General Manager of LASBCA, Gbaye Florence, said the agency immediately deployed a team of structural engineers and enforcement officers to assess the building.

According to her, the inspection confirmed that the property had suffered critical structural defects, posing a serious threat to the lives of occupants and neighbouring residents.

Following the assessment, the agency ordered the immediate evacuation of all occupants before commencing a controlled demolition to prevent a possible building collapse.

Florence said the swift response reflected the agency’s commitment to protecting lives and property across Lagos State.

“The agency remains committed to ensuring that unsafe buildings do not constitute a threat to residents across Lagos State. Once we received the report, our officials moved to the site to assess the situation, and the inspection confirmed that the building had suffered critical structural defects that made it unsafe for habitation,” she said.

She commended the resident whose timely report enabled the agency to intervene before the situation escalated into a tragedy.

“I want to commend the concerned citizen who promptly alerted the agency through our toll-free line. That timely report enabled us to intervene before the situation deteriorated further and helped prevent what could have resulted in a tragic incident,” Florence added.

She urged residents to promptly report distressed, abandoned or visibly defective buildings, stressing that public vigilance remains crucial in preventing building collapses.

The LASBCA boss also assured that the agency would continue monitoring buildings across the state, enforcing compliance with safety regulations and responding swiftly to distress reports.

She encouraged members of the public to report suspected distressed buildings and other building safety concerns through the agency’s toll-free line, 07000-527222 (07000-LASBCA), to facilitate prompt intervention and safeguard lives and property.