Dipo Olowookere
Business activities at some companies in Lagos State were on Tuesday disrupted by officials of the state government.
Business Post reports that the interference was caused by officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA).
Some of the organisations sealed by the agency were Zenith Bank, Access Bank, Unity Bank, Tantalizers and many others around Allen Avenue area of the metropolis.
LASBCA alleged that these firms illegally converted residential buildings into commercial properties.
According to LASBCA Secretary, Mr Tayo Fakolujo, and a director in the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA), Mr Kayode Daramola, who supervised the exercise, the affected companies were given adequate time to obtain the necessary approvals, but failed to take action.
Also, the General Manager of LASBCA, Mr Lekan Shodeinde, stated that only few companies in the area approached the agency to regularise their documents to get commercial approval, while others ignored.
According to him, LASBCA has the mandate to carry out audit on buildings in the state for safety purposes and ensure that people did not take laws into their hands.
He said the government had also given six months grace period for people who did not have permit before erecting their structures to regularise them without paying the penalties for such violations.
The LASBCA boss lamented that owners of properties served notices on Allen Avenue did not come forward to regularise their papers, hence the need to enforce the law for compliance purpose.
According to him, government would no longer tolerate illegal conversion of residential properties to commercial without permit, as the law would descend heavily on those who trampled under the law.
It was learnt that the LABSCA officials, who were accompanied by task force officials, drove out customers at Zenith Bank before sealing up the place.
The Tantalizers outlet at the popular Allen Roundabout was not spared by the government officials as it was also sealed.
Under the physical planning law, a residential property must obtain due permit before it could be converted to commercial.
Aduragbemi Omiyale