Lagos State Government has said the demolition of 13 residential buildings at Rockview Street, Ajao Estate, Isolo, occurred because the buildings lacked approval and were illegally constructed along fuel pipelines.
The houses which were close to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport were said to constitute security issues to the airport.
The General Manager, Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA, Gbolahan Oki, disclosed this during a press briefing on Friday.
Oki said the authorities engaged owners of the buildings since 2016 and four notices served on them before commencement of the removal.
He described the situation as a disaster waiting to happen. He further expressed fear of a possible fire outbreak from the pipeline in future which he said could result in loss of lives and properties.
He said, “Nobody in his right thinking mind will go and buy a plot on a pipeline and build on the pipeline.”
He described the buildings on the land as a “National risk” to the airport being “extremely close”, stressing that “no life of a Nigerian is worth being lost to the dangers that the siting of the buildings pose.”
Also, the General Manager, Business Development, FAAN, Mr. Hycienth Ugwu, said the land where the buildings are situated were acquired by the Federal Government in 1944, 1972 and 1975 for the expansion of the international airport.
He said: “ We want to thank LASBCA for partnering with us to check these illegalities. We have been in this since 2015, when encroachment was noticed in Ajao estate and Shasta axis of the airport. After some discussions with them, some appealled to the President for regularisation. About 200 buildings were regularised, but others, which constitute safety, security and operational challenges could not be regularised. They are illegal without any form of title and document on the land they are built on. We tried to stop them, but they continue building till now that LASBCA is helping us with the demolition.”
He further explained that no building is allowed to be erected close to the perimeter fences of the airport, according to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
Ugwu stressed that this action could lead to the closure of the airport by the ICAO, which will result in loss of substantial revenue to the Federal Government, Lagos State government and FAAN.
Ifunanya Ikueze is an Engineer, Safety Professional, Writer, Investor, Entrepreneur and Educator.
