Joy Anyim
For allegedly contravening the Lagos State Physical Planning Regulations, 67 buildings have been sealed by the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA).
The Nigerian Xpress reports that the affected structures- residential, commercial and yet-to-be completed buildings – are all located in Alimosho area of the state.
Speaking on the enforcement exercise, the General Manager, LASPPPA, Mr. Kehinde Osinaike, 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.
Stating that the exercise was carried out simultaneously in the Authority’s delineated District Areas of Alimosho, Mosan-Okunola and Agbado Oke-Odo in Alimosho Local Government, Osinaike revealed that the Agency had in September 2021 served contravention notices on the affected structures.
He however frowned at the fact that the notices were not heeded as required, hence the corresponding action.
His words: “One hundred and twenty-five 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”.
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“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.”
Osinaike further disclosed 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.
He however added that the enforcement would be a continuous exercise in the Local Government Areas and other areas of the State.
“The State Government, through LASPPPA and other sister Agencies, is poised to sanitise the built environment and restore the Lagos Physical Planning Master Plan in line with the mandate of the present administration,” he reiterated.
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.
Similarly, the Coordinator, Monitoring and Compliance Unit, LASPPPA, Olarinde Iyiola, stated that the enforcement exercise was to ensure compliance with the Operative Development Plan of the Area.
He said: “Structures in compliance with planning permit approvals and regulations were spared during the exercise.”
