By Adedapo Adesanya
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) said it has begun the demolition of distressed building in the state, starting from Bamigbose Street in Lagos Island.
Director-General of the agency, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, speaking during the demolition activity in Lagos on Saturday morning noted that one of such buildings was a three-storey building located at 54, Bamgbose Street, which was in a state of distress with cracks on different parts of the house.
Mr Oke-Osanyintolu said that another distressed building on the same street had earlier been brought down to ground zero on Wednesday, December 11, saying that the owners had already removed the roof of the second building located at 52, Bamgbose Street to persuade tenants to vacate the property.
He said that before the agency carried out the demolition, the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), the Material Testing Agency and Ministry of Urban and Physical Planning had made their recommendations to the government.
In his words, ”the Ministry’s recommendations are necessary to carry out stress tests to ascertain the integrity of the building.
“After thorough investigations, the ministry agreed that the houses should be taken to ground zero.
”Consequently, the residents of the building were advised to vacate the premises within five days for their safety.”
The LASEMA chief said that the demolition of the building at 54 Bamgbose Street reached ground zero between 11:30 p.m on Friday and 3:44 a.m on Saturday.
He said that LASEMA was committed to ensuring the safety of lives and property of residents in the state and that government had resolved to redevelop Lagos Island which had many buildings that are over 100 years old.
Mr Oke-Osanyintolu said the demolition was in line with the state government determination to protect the lives and property of Lagos residents.
Modupe Gbadeyanka