The Lagos state government through the State Building Control Agency, LABSCA, has begun the removal of shops and shanties built on roads and setbacks within the Lagos Island Business District, Central Business District (CBD).
Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, made this known while commenting on the burnt 16-storey Mandillas building on broad street.
He disclosed that the demolition exercise was necessary to create open and easy access to high rising buildings and offices in the area in case of emergency and rescue operations.
According to Olumide, “Shanties and makeshift shops have no place in the THEMES PLUS agenda of Mr. Governor and therefore are not allowed anymore in markets as the government has provided designated markets, shops and outlets for traders to do their business instead of coming onto the roads.
“All corridors leading to commercial and residential high rise buildings across the state have to be cleared to allow for emergency services at all times.”
Also commenting on the demolition plans, the General Manager, LABSCA, Arc Gbolahan Oki, lamented on the difficulties encounted by emergency response officers due to the roadblocks by shops which leads to delayed response time.
Olumide also announced that the burnt Mandillas building would remain shut pending the conclusion of structural integrity test to ascertain its habitable status before it can be reopened for use.
“The Mandilas building gutted by fire over the weekend will have to undergo a structure integrity test to ascertain its habitable status before it can be re-open for public use,” he said.
