….Vows to Rid
State Of Illegal Structures
The Lagos
State Government on Saturday said owners of the buildings demolished in Ikoyi
were duly served with contravention, removal and quit notices before the
exercise was carried out, just as it vowed to intensify efforts to rid the
State of illegal structures.
In a statement
issued by the Commissioner, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve
Ayorinde, the Government said it had noted with dismay, the flagrant
disobedience of Building Regulations, and has therefore resolved to ensure
removal of all structures that are in contravention of the law.
Speaking
against the backdrop of recent demolition of some illegal structures in Ikoyi,
Ayorinde reiterated Government’s determination to rid the State of Illegal
developments saying “In our effort to maintain a sustainable, organized,
liveable and friendly environment, the Government will not renege on its
declared stance of zero tolerance for structures and properties without
development permit or approved building plans.
He also warned
that all those who choose to erect illegal structures in violation of our laws
in order to take advantage of third parties will not only have those structures
removed but will also be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
According to
the Commissioner, the buildings in question were situated in an area originally
designated as residential area, but the developers unilaterally and without
recourse to the State Government commenced development of industrial and
commercial concerns in these locations thereby distorting the master plan of
the area; causing environmental nuisance, traffic snarls and more importantly a
security threat to the neighbourhood.
On the
allegation that the buildings were not duly served with necessary
contravention, stop work and removal notices, the Commissioner said that the
State Government will not succumb to blackmail in any form.
“We have
documentary evidence of service of all statutory notices, the buildings were
also marked with the X red oxide to also call the attention of the owners to
physical planning contraventions”.
Ayorinde
added, “Having served the Statutory Contravention Notices on the offending
structures and when owners of such structures failed to remove them within the
statutory notice period, we were compelled to remove such structures”. This
Government is committed to following due process and will strictly enforce
provisions of the law on this subject matter.
He said the
State Government is desirous of restoring the original master plan of all
residential areas in the State, adding, “Arbitrary location of kiosks, illegal
parking lots, unapproved mechanic workshops, roadside restaurants and other
unplanned commercial centres have contributed in no small way to distorting
physical planning designs of the State”.
While
reiterating Government’s commitment to “a safe, clean and prosperous Lagos”,
the Commissioner warned that the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban
Development as the organ of government saddled with the responsibility of
ensuring compliance with town planning laws, will not allow the State’s planning
aesthetics to be destroyed by people who have no regard for beauty, serenity,
law and order.
While
expressing the determination of the current administration to restore the
original master plan of the State, he vowed to do everything possible to ensure
that people observe the various planning laws and regulations in every part of
the State.
“This is an
exercise in progress; it is an on-going operation to sanitize the environment,
we have also developed strategies to prevent re-occurrences of illegal
developments and for the sustenance of a cleaner Lagos,” he said.
Ayorinde,
however, called on those who have structures within the Right of Way of Public
Utilities to remove them or face the full wrath of the law.
He further
urged the general public to ensure that they obtain necessary planning permits
before embarking on any renovation, construction or other forms of development,
adding that the public should also avail themselves of the provisions of the
Lagos State Physical Planning and Development Regulations.
THENATION
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