By Akinwale Kasali
The Lagos State Government has ordered occupiers and owners of residential buildings who illegally converted the properties to Churches, Mosques, Club Houses, Lounges and Bars without approval for change of use, to revert to the original use of the structures within 30 days.
Gbolahan Owodunni Oki, General Manager, Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA, who issued the notice, said, the order applies to all structures used for the aforementioned purposes located within residential areas and without requisite permit from relevant authorities.
He noted that the notice is a sequel to the distortion of the masterplan of Lagos State, especially residential areas, by some people who, in gross disregard to the regulatory provisions of the law turned residential areas into club houses and worship centres thereby constituting a nuisance to the environment.
He noted further that the removal notice became imperative following security concerns of citizens and repeated complaints of non-adherence to safety and security guidelines issued to the club owners.
Oki stated that any owner of buildings in residential areas that have been converted to Churches, Mosques, clubs, bars or lounges without the requisite approvals should evict such occupants before the expiration of the 30 days’ final notice as the state will not give further notice of sealing but outright removal of such non-conforming buildings at the cost of the owners.
“We are giving them one month’s final notice from the 29th of January to revert to the original plan or have such buildings removed at their expense”, Oki warned.
He maintained that LASBCA had earlier identified the illegal and non-conforming structures and had served the statutory enforcement notices but those affected have either failed or refused to respond to the notices, hence the service of this final notice.
He averred that residents of areas designated as residential places, especially the elderly in the Lekki axis and its environs have repeatedly called on the state government to save their souls following the adverse effects of the conversion of property in the area to churches, mosques, bars, clubs and lounges is having on their health and security in the area.
He advised property owners to take this notice with the seriousness it deserves as nobody will be spared in the effort to sanitise the state in line with Africa’s model mega city status vision of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
