The Lagos State Government has embarked on a significant demolition project targeting 17 distressed structures at Alaba Market in the Ojo area.
The decision to undertake this action was announced by the General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Arc. Gbolahan Oki.
Prior to the demolition, Oki conducted an assessment of the buildings earmarked for removal, emphasizing the necessity of the operation.
During the assessment event, the LASBCA boss issued final warnings and notices to the occupants of the affected structures.
The government’s website featured a post stating, “The marked inscriptions from LASBCA seen on different parts of the buildings that were looking physically distressed had vacation notices as far back as 2016, 2020, 2022, and several others issued to this year, 2023.”
The long-standing notices indicated that the occupants had been provided ample time to vacate the premises and comply with the directives issued by LASBCA and other government agencies.
The Lagos State Government expressed concern over the harassment faced by its officials when attempting to address the distressed structures in the past.
Oki lamented this unfortunate situation, explaining, “These buildings marked within this ALABA International Market would have been included in the list of 349 distressed buildings earlier published in different national newspapers this year. However, due to the occupants’ persistent harassment of our officers, it was impossible to capture the details of the structures and include them in the publication.”
To carry out the demolition, a joint exercise was conducted by the Lagos Task Force officers and the demolition gang of the Lagos State Building Control Agency.
Recognizing that Alaba Market is a bustling commercial center, renowned for its sales of electronic devices and various other items, Oki acknowledged the importance of the market but emphasized the need to address irregularities.
He stated, “We cannot fold our arms and allow irregularities to continue to thrive in the market where the lives of innocent persons would be put at risk because of the failure of a few individuals who have refused to do the needful.”
However, the owners of the structures expressed their distress, claiming that they had nowhere else to go. The demolition of their properties left them uncertain about their future and livelihoods.
Despite the inevitable disruption caused by the demolitions, the Lagos State Government remained committed to prioritizing public safety and ensuring that potentially hazardous structures were removed from the Alaba Market.
The government aimed to protect the lives and well-being of the market’s occupants and visitors, while also maintaining a thriving and safe commercial environment for all stakeholders involved.