A building, belonging to the late Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji AbdulAzeez Arisekola Alao, has been marked for demolition by the Lagos State Building Construction Agency, LASBCA.
According to Punch, the four-storeyed structure situated opposite the Ebute-Ero Police Station, Lagos Island, was labelled as abandoned and distressed by LASBCA.
LASBCA commenced the demolition of dilapidated and distressed buildings across the state on Monday.
Although Arisekola’s building was not demolished on Monday, some other buildings nearby were pulled down.
It was gathered that some policemen from the Ebute-Ero division prevented LASBCA from demolishing Arisekola’s building.
It was gathered that some policemen lived in the building, which had allegedly been abandoned for 25 years.
General manager, LASBCA, Engr. Lekan Shodehinde said the demolition was under the first phase of the demolition of distressed buildings approved by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.
Shodehinde said the buildings had been distressed overtime and that government had served owners of the structures notices.
He said the exercise was being carried out to stem tides of collapsed buildings in the state, saying that government would not fold its arm and allow buildings to collapse indiscriminately across the metropolis.
He said, “The affected houses were tested and found distressed. The house you are talking about (Arisekola’s house) is an abandoned house. Distress could be foundation or super-structure failure, but once a building has been confirmed distressed, it will be demolished.”
Attempts to reach, Arisekola’s son, Umar, who was said to be a frequent visitor to the property, proved abortive.
