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| Mikano Building. |
The Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led government of Lagos State has threatened to demolish a building reportedly belonging to Mikano Company.
The threat was issued after the government had sealed the
eight-floor building over the alleged refusal by the firm to adhere to the stop
work order earlier served on it.
The state government noted in a statement issued on
Monday, November 6, that the action continued its efforts to restore order to
the building sector, particularly along the waterfront corridor.
As part of this, the property on Queens’ Drive in Ikoyi,
currently under construction, was sealed.
The action was taken during a joint inspection by the
Commissioners for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Ekundayo Alebiosu, and
Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Olumide Olayinka.
During the inspection, the commissioners expressed
dissatisfaction with the firm’s disregard for the earlier directive to halt
construction until the necessary documents were provided.
They also emphasized that the belief that the government
is turning a blind eye to such violations due to the individuals involved is
unfounded.
“The government cannot ignore and still ask us to go do
what we are doing. It is a process. We have received several petitions and
complaints, and that is why I am here with HC Physical Planning to test the
veracity of those claims.
“Although serious enforcement will start soon, we issued
these people a stop work order two weeks ago, but they disobeyed. We are here
today, and we saw them still working, so we had to stop them again, and you can
see that they have obeyed that order. We are expecting them to give us their
documentation.
“These people also need to go to the Ministry of
Environment for their drainage application. They need their EIA, TIA from
Transport, their surveys and some other things to get approvals. They cannot
just jump on site and start construction. These are some of the infractions our
ministry and physical planning have discovered from those applying for
approvals,” Alebiosu reportedly said.
On his part, Olayinka said his office would come heavily
on defaulters, adding that quit notices would be served and demolition would
follow.
“As you can see, we’ve gone around today. The laws of
Lagos Physical Planning state that all developments need to be approved before
you commence construction; and not only that, you need our control in terms of
certifying stages.
“Most of the structures you see along the waterway do not
have approval; that is why we are marking them. Those of them that we have
identified to have extended beyond the approval given, we shall compel them to
comply.
“However, there’s going to be a joint exercise among the
relevant ministries, physical planning and waterfront, especially. We’re going
to come out very heavily on this corridor, and I mean it, very heavily. We’re
going to compel them to abide by the law.
“So, I’m using this opportunity to warn those in this
habit to stop. They should go and do the right thing. Again, we’re going to
come out very heavily. Quit notices will be served, and demolition will
follow,” The PUNCH quoted the Commissioner saying.
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