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Tag: LASBCA

  • Tenants sue landlord, LASBCA over alleged unlawful eviction, demolition in Ebute-Meta

    Tenants sue landlord, LASBCA over alleged unlawful eviction, demolition in Ebute-Meta

    A group of tenants in the Ijero area of Ebute-Meta (West), Lagos State, have taken their landlord and the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) to court over what they described as an unlawful eviction and demolition of their residence.

    The nine tenants filed a suit before the Magistrate Court in Yaba, accusing LASBCA and the estate of the late Razak Apara — along with Rasheed, Kehinde, Fatai, and Sueba Folashade Apara — of violating their fundamental rights to shelter and fair hearing.

    They also petitioned the Lagos State Commissioner of Police and the Divisional Police Officer of Iponri Division, alleging unjust and inhuman treatment.

    According to court documents, the dispute began after LASBCA issued a quit notice on October 10, 2025, to occupants of a 10-room bungalow located at 24 Ijero Street, Ebute-Meta (West), citing structural distress, cracked walls, and a tattered roof. The agency gave the residents seven days to vacate.

    A follow-up notice, dated October 21, 2025, ordered the immediate sealing and demolition of the property.

    Counsel to the tenants, Mr. Solomon Fasanmi, argued that the eviction violated the Lagos State Tenancy Law of 2011 and due process for property recovery.

    “Even where a building is marked unsafe, there are established procedures the government must follow. Due process cannot be ignored in a democracy,” Fasanmi stated, describing LASBCA’s actions as unconstitutional, oppressive, and a breach of his clients’ right to dignity under the 1999 Constitution.

    He urged the court to restrain the agency and the defendants from executing the demolition order.

    One of the tenants, Ustadz Muiz Subair, said the notice came without prior warning.

    “They came early in the morning and pasted a seven-day notice, claiming the bungalow was distressed. How can a bungalow be distressed when it’s not even a storey building?” he asked.

    Subair appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to intervene, describing the rising cases of forced evictions in Lagos as alarming.

    “Rent in Lagos keeps increasing, yet tenants are being rendered homeless by state officials,” he lamented.

    Responding to the allegations, Mrs. Adetoye Aderinsola, District Head of LASBCA, Ebute-Meta (East), denied any wrongdoing, saying the agency acted in the public interest.

    “A bungalow can be distressed if not properly maintained and if there are visible cracks. The building in question showed signs of structural weakness, and our actions followed standard procedure,” she explained.

    She also dismissed claims that LASBCA acted on behalf of the property owner, saying, “I’m hearing that for the first time. There is no truth to it.”

    The case is currently before the Yaba Magistrate Court for hearing.

  • Community accuses LASBCA of illegal demolition

    Community accuses LASBCA of illegal demolition

    Residents of Owutu 1 Community in Ikorodu have accused the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) of a ‘blatant’ disregard for a court order prohibiting demolitions, alongside allegations of collusion with land grabbers.

    The residents, who spoke at a press conference, yesterday, presented a court judgment restraining the Lagos State Government from demolishing any property within the area. However, they claimed that LASBCA, in collaboration with land grabbers, carried out the demolitions on March 26.

    The community alleged that the land grabbers are attempting to seize their properties under the guise of enforcing building regulations, with the alleged cooperation of corrupt LASBCA officials.

    The Chairperson of the Owutu 1 CDA, Princess Bukola Adebowale, noted what members of the community went through to address the issue before the sudden demolition. She said: “We went to the House of Assembly, the radio station, and wrote to the state government, they told us to go to physical planning, that they knew nothing about it. Then, suddenly, they came with tractors and tear gas, even setting houses they cannot penetrate with their equipment on fire.”

    Adebowale detailed the community’s plight, stating, “We are sleeping outside with our belongings. Where are we supposed to go?”

    She pleaded with the Lagos State government and the local government chairman to intervene.

    “They are finishing our community, they need to rescue us. There will no more Owutu CDA if this goes on. We have been paying our land use charge for many years now and they just suddenly displaced us,” she said.

    Read Also: Supporters defy ban, rally for suspended Natasha Akpoti

    The Legal practitioner representing the residents, Alexander Ishoba described the situation as a “complete rascality”.

    He said: “On March 26th, we witnessed high-handedness and arbitrariness that I never thought possible. We have a court judgment restraining the Lagos State government from demolishing any properties within this area yet they ignored it.”

    Ishoba explained that the community had sought dialogue with the government regarding the land acquisition, emphasising their willingness to cooperate if proper compensation was provided.

    “We wrote several letters, requesting negotiations. They didn’t respond. Instead, they proceeded with demolitions, defying a court order issued by Justice A.F Pokanu of the Lagos State High Court in January 21, 2025”, he added.

    The residents also alleged that the Sholenge family is involved in the land dispute, despite the community’s claim to having purchased their land from the Allison family with registered titles dating back to 1952.

    Ishoba emphasised: “The matter is even pending at the Court of Appeal but they came with policemen, thugs, and soldiers, demolishing homes without compensation”.

    The lawyer reiterated the community’s commitment to seeking legal redress.

    “If they do not look into this within three days, we will go back to court, even if they do not obey the orders. I cannot advise my clients to take up arms, even though that is their feeling right now. We shall pursue all available legal avenues to secure justice and restitution. We also call upon the Federal Government to intervene, to ensure that the fundamental rights of these citizens are upheld”, he said.

    A resident of the community since 2022, Idowu Animola added: “My mother’s house is here, my father’s house is here, and my own home. I have four children in university. Where am I supposed to get the money to sponsor them now? This is where I live and this is where I make my livelihood. Please, we are all Nigerians”.

    Animola also spoke of the ongoing court case against the Sholenge family, and the shock of the sudden demolitions despite assurances from officials.

    Another resident simply identified as David described the situation as “deeply unfortunate and despicable”

    According to him, the officials forcefully ejected everyone from their homes, almost demolishing the houses while aged people were still inside until they had to rush them out. He added people have been living outside with nowhere else to go.

    The residents called for a thorough investigation into the agency’s activities and demanded that those responsible be held accountable.

    They also seek redress for the losses incurred, including compensation for the demolished properties and the displacement of community members.

  • Tenants sue LASBCA, others over demolition, eviction

    Tenants sue LASBCA, others over demolition, eviction

    Tenants of a property at 118, Apapa Road, Ebute-Metta (West), Lagos, have filed a lawsuit against the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) and its agents, alleging illegal eviction and demolition threats.

    The tenants claim the agency used officers of the Nigeria Police Force and extra-judicial means to forcefully eject them without due process.

    In their memorandum, filed under Order 3 Rule 2 (E) of the Lagos State High Court Rules, the tenants asserted that the eviction and demolition threats were unlawful.

    They also argued that LASBCA violated a court restraining order, which directed the agency to maintain the status quo pending compliance with Lagos State High Court Practice Direction No. 2 of 2019 on pre-action protocols.

    According to the tenants, LASBCA served a contravention notice for a distressed structure and a sealing order on December 3 without prior inspection of the property.

    The plaintiffs also accused the agency of collaborating with landlords and developers to exploit legal loopholes for personal gain.

    Read Also: LASAA, LASBCA partner on signage permits

    The tenants, including Adebayo Ibraheem, Monsuru Agbalaya, Iwelu Nkechi, Abdullahi Ashiru, Taibat Abdulsallam, and Ibrahim Alao, appealed to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to address the alleged abuses by LASBCA and unscrupulous property developers.

    Through an ex-parte application dated November 20, the tenants sought court orders to:  restrain the defendants from demolishing the property at 118, Apapa Road, pending compliance with the pre-action protocol; prevent LASBCA and other parties from forcibly evicting them until all legal requirements are met; prohibit the use of police officers or any extra-judicial means to eject the tenants unlawfully without due process pending the compliance with and conclusion of pre-action protocol; restrain 1st and 6th defendants from ejecting the tenants from the property pending the compliance and conclusion on pre-action protocol in the matter.

  • Two feared injured as another building collapses

    Two persons were yesterday feared injured as another three-storey building collapsed on Lagos Island.

    The incident, which occurred at 50, Kakawa Street, has brought to four the number of buildings that had collapsed in the area since the March 13 disaster.

    It was gathered that the latest collapsed building had been marked for demolition for a long time, but officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LABSCA) did nothing to pull it down, until it caved in yesterday afternoon.

    Those who sustained injuries, The Nation learnt, were residents of a nearby building the collapsed structure fell on. Another three-storey building situated at 47/49, Odunlami Street, behind the collapsed one, was also affected.

    At the time our correspondent visited the scene, the General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Adesina Tiamiyu, Rapid Response Squad (RRS) policemen, fire service officials and LABSCA officials were at the place, preparing to pull down the remains of the buildings.

    Lagos State Government yesterday urged occupants of marked distressed buildings to vacate them before the arrival of the demolition team of LASBCA.

    Read also: Photos of Lagos building collapse

    Physical Planning and Urban Development Commissioner Prince Rotimi Ogunleye made the appeal, just as a distressed three-storey building at 50, Kakawa Street, Lagos Island, collapsed.

    The government said there was no casualty.

    Ogunleye said: “The building in question had been identified as distressed by the officers of the LASBCA and all the necessary statutory notices had been duly served. It was one of the defective structures marked for demolition by the agency.

    “Fortunately, occupants had been evacuated before the incident occurred. Immediately, the Lagos State Rescue Team and LASBCA were alerted and they moved to site promptly to check all adjoining buildings so as to evacuate the occupants, to avoid any further hazards.”

    Those displaced in the ongoing demolition of defective/distressed buildings in the state will be resettled at the Igando Resettlement Camp, Commissioner for Information and Strategy Kehinde Bamigbetan said yesterday.

    The camp comprises five hostels, with 22 rooms and four double-bunk each. Each room can accommodate eight persons.

    It has a kitchen, a dining hall, a general hall for recreation, a three-ward medical facility, 10 toilets and bathrooms for each hostel, workers’ accommodation, facilities for persons living with disabilities and security post, among others.

    Speaking during a media tour of the camp, Bamigbetan said it was ready to take 500 displaced persons from today.

    Their resettlement, he said, was part of the government’s plan to mitigate the effect of the loss of their homes.

    Tiamiyu said the camp would be opened for three months in the first instance, after which the government would review the need for an extension.

    The camp, he said, would work with the Igando General Hospital on medical referrals, adding that the health team for the camp would arrive today.

  • Building collapse: Lagos orders occupants of marked buildings to vacate immediately

    Occupants of marked distressed buildings in Lagos State have been ordered to immediately vacate them pending the arrival of the demolition team of Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA).

    Also, relief and resettlement centres have been opened to accommodate those affected at Igando and Agbowa.

    Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Prince Rotimi Ogunleye made the appeal in a statement by Nwonah Olubukonla, Asst. Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development on Monday.

    The directive was sequel to the collapse of a distressed three-storey building located on 50, Kakawa Street, Campos, Lagos Island on Monday without any casualty.

    Read Also: Building collapse: NAPPS urges proprietors to build schools themselves

    Ogunleye said: “The building in question had been identified as distressed by the officers of the LASBCA and all the necessary statutory notices had been duly served. It was one of the defective structures marked for removal by the agency.

    “Fortunately, occupants had been evacuated before the incidents occurred. Immediately, the Lagos State Rescue Team and LASBCA were alerted and they moved to site promptly to check all adjoining buildings so as to evacuate the occupants to avoid any further hazards.”

    Already 25 buildings have been removed by LASBCA as the Government has stepped up measures to rid the State of distressed buildings so as to prevent loss of lives and property due to sudden collapse in the State.

  • Drama as LASEMA, LASBCA disagree on collapsed building

    Did House 57, Egerton Street in Oke Arin on Lagos Island collapse yesterday?

    Yes, it did, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) said.

    But the State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) described LASEMA’s assertion as “untrue,” saying no building collapsed.

    A national newspaper quoted Director of the Lagos State Fire Service, Rasaki Musibau, as saying that the building had a partial collapse.

    LASBCA, however, insist that no such thing happened.

    Its spokesperson Mrs Titi Ajirotutu said the building had already been demolished by LASBCA.

    Mrs Ajirotutu said a scavenger was injured in the process of carting away door steel and other materials.

    LASEMA on his twitter handle said @lasemasocial said the building had been marked by LASBCA for demolition.

    The agency wrote: “The officials (LASBCA) were on top of the building when some scavengers tried to remove the doors on the ground floor and the remaining parts of the building collapsed on them.

    “The four scavengers sustained minor injuries and had been taken to the nearest hospital before the arrival of LRT (LASEMA Response Team.)

    Musibau, according to the paper, said four rescued victims have been taken to a hospital.

    “Information from our men at the scene showed that it was a partial collapse. They have removed four persons trapped in the building. They were all rescued alive. They have been taken to the hospital for treatment as I speak,” he said.

    LASBCA General Manager Mr Lekan Shodeinde in a statement last night reiterated that there was no fresh building collapse in the state as being trending on the social media today.

    Shodeinde said “a three-floor structure was marked as distressed and is undergoing demolition as at press time. The building in question is within a built-up area flanked by other adjoining structures at the rear.”

    He added that the demolition of the distressed building became necessary in order to avert another disaster.

    According to him, the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode will leave no stone unturned to sanitise the building construction industry in the state by removing all the distressed, illegal structures and buildings prone to collapse as well as those that were not in conformity with the state building laws.

    The general manager appealed to Lagosians to cooperate with the State Government by moving out of all buildings marked as distressed and also stay away from demolition sites.

    Read also: Updated: Over 150 buildings marked for demolition in Lagos Island

    He, however, re-emphasised the fact that only the LASBCA has the responsibility and professional expertise to determine whether a building is distressed or prone to collapse.

    Meanwhile, Mrs Ajirotutu said additional four buildings – 2, Olushi, 3, Obadina, 30A, Isale Agbede and 36, Isale Agbede streets – were demolished yesterday.

    “The total number of buildings demolished so far in Lagos Island was 17,” she said.

    Residents of demolished houses and those marked for demolition on Lagos Island are begging the government for help.

    They want the government to resettle them so that they can begin life afresh.

    Many of them were wandering yesterday, with nowhere to go. Some gathered their belongings by the roadside; Others sold their personal effects at giveaway prices.

    The Nation learnt that some slept on the streets; others squatted with relatives and friends.

    A          victim of the Ita Faji, Lagos Island building collapse, who preferred anonymity, said: “It’s still like a movie, a dream, which I will forever live to remember. I was looking out from my window when I saw the house going down with a loud sound. The building sank and I heard shouts and cries of people. Those in the building cried out. Neighbours could not hold back their tears. Adults cried like babies. Everyone ran to the scene.”

    A resident of a demolished house, Noheem Saka, said he didn’t know where to go.

    He said: “My family and I have nowhere to go. What the government has done is right, following the recent building collapse, but we want it to provide low-cost housing for us to rent.”

    Saka said the government should continuously check houses and ensure that the foundations are strong.

    “When they come to test the buildings, government officials should not collect bribes,” he added.

    A victim, Quadri Oladapo, said his family house had been demolished.

    Said he: “I am not aware if the government has given us  quit notice. They just came suddenly last Friday and demolished our house. We all slept on the streets with our belongings. Mosquitoes bit us.

    “We are Nigerians, we are not refugees. The government should assist us.”

    Another victim, Segun Apu, said they were given notice before but they resorted to renovating the house.

    “They gave us notice again last Friday and said they would demolish it today (yesterday). Our personal effects are on the streets. We don’t know where to go. The government should help us. We have started selling the belongings we bought with our sweat at giveaway prices,” he said.

  • We’ll fix challenges facing Lagos, Sanwo-Olu assures

    Lagos State Gov.-Elect Babajide Sanwo-Olu says he has documented the challenges facing the state and will come up with solutions without delay.

    Sanwo-Olu made this known to State House correspondents on Monday after a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The governor identified the challenges before that state as youth unemployment, insecurity and building collapse.

    According to him, his administration, when inaugurated, will quickly embark on programmes aimed at improving the quality of lives of residents and address all of the challenges facing the people.

    READ ALSO: How Sanwo-Olu can succeed, by Razak

    He said: “We are very excited that we have seen all the challenges and we will certainly be bringing about solutions that will very quickly solve all of our various challenges in Lagos.

    “We know that with a mega city of our status, it comes with a lot of challenges but we are lucky that we have been part of it before now.

    “So, we are excited that we are bringing solutions to problems that we identified on the campaign trail.

    “We will very quickly bring about positive development that would improve the quality of lives and ease all of the challenges that we currently see in Lagos.’’

    While describing recent collapse of some buildings in the state as most unfortunate, Sanwo-Olu lauded the current administration for its quick response to the issue of building collapse.

    “It’s an unfortunate incident. Incidentally when I was in government before, I used to be the Vice Chairman of the building collapse committee.

    “It was something that happened about 8 to 10 years ago, which was what led to the creation of an agency which we called Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) at that time, which was meant to begin to identify structures way ahead before such incidences occur.

    “But it’s an unfortunate thing, extremely very unfortunate and it is not something that we would like to see happen again.

    “So the current government has started very quickly, ensuring that they test the integrity of a whole lot of properties we have there.

    “You know Lagos State is part of the old colony of Lagos and it is not unexpected that you see houses that are over a century old and in their numbers.

    “So, we need to be real and know that Lagos truly, really needs regeneration, especially Lagos island,’’ he added.

    Sanwo-Olu, who was accompanied by his Dep. Gov.-Elect, Obafemi Hamzat, said that they were in the villa to congratulate President Buhari on his re-election for another four-year term.

    NAN

  • LASBCA warns property owners on structural integrity

    The Lagos State government through its agency, the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has reiterated  commitment to zero tolerance to distressed and prone to collapse buildings in the state.

    At a building engineering appraisal exercise in Ajangbadi, Lagos, at the weekend, its General Manager,  Olalekan Shodeinde, an engineer, observed that some buildings in the area were distressed and proned to collapse at any time, hence the need for evacuation of the building for the safety of all residents.

    To lay credence to the agency’s proactive disposition, Shodeinde said a distressed and proned to collapse building situated on Teslim Street, off Aka road Ajangbadi, in Ojo area of Lagos, was identified by the agency.

    He, however, regreted that despite several statutory seal up and removal notices served by the agency on the building’s owner and occupants since August, 2017, the landlord has refused to comply. Shodeinde said some distressed buildings have been identified and marked by the agency in some areas within the Lagos metropolis, while all residents in those buildings have been evacuated by the agency to avert any loss of lives and properties.

    Consequently, Baale of Ajangbadi, Chief Murisiku Teslim, during a LASBCA sensitisation exercise, said all efforts are being put in place to ensure that the building owners comply with the state government directive.

    Shodeinde added that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration is aimed at achieving zero tolerance to building collapse incidences. This, he further revealed, was why the agency served notices to owners of the distressed buildings to demolish their buildings or risk being demolished by the Agency at a cost the owners will bear in accordance with the Lagos State Physical and Urban Planning Development Law 2010.

    He emphasised that no responsible government will watch its citizen die avoidable and careless death without taking precautionary measures to stop it.

  • LASBCA tightens noose on illegal bonded terminals

    LAGOS State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has clamped down on buildings in Apapa illegally converted to bonded terminal from residential apartment without appropriate building plan approval and regularisation from the state.

    Its General Manager, Lekan Shodeinde, who was represented by the Agency Secretary, Mr. Tayo Fakolujo, spoke on the sideline during sealing by the agency in Ajeromi-Ifelodun/Apapa local government areas and its environ. He revealed that the government, in its quest to put the state on other smart cities’ pedestal in the world, is making Lagos a well-planned and structured society where buildings are constructed according to building plan approval granted by the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA). During the exercise, Queena Bonded Terminal, Don Climax Bonded Terminal, Godday Cinema  and other buildings and terminals were sealed by the agency.

    Shodeinde, who said it would be a continuous exercise, argued that the genesis of Apapa gridlock is as a result of indiscriminate citing of tank farms and bonded terminals in the areas without requisite approval from the state government.

    He is confident that with the new monitoring and auditing of building exercise in the state, operators of a terminal or owner, who converted residential buildings to commercial use without proper regularisation, building engineering appraisal and recourse to the Master Plan of the area, would be prosecuted.

    A resident of Dada Onijomo Street, Awodi-Ora in Ajegunle, Mrs. Taiwo Aina, regreted that since the siting of bonded terminal in the area, the community had not known peace as a result of indiscriminate parking of trailers on the street.

    Also, another resident of Osho Drive, Kirikiri road, Olodi-Apapa, agreed that bonded terminals in the area have contributed hugely to traffic hold up around the area, adding that the area has lost her glory as trailers and motorists have turned the area into dumping ground for containers.

    Shodeinde, however, appealed to  Lagosians to comply with the building laws and seize the opportunity of the six months amnesty to regularise and perfect their building documentations to avoid any form of embarrassment from Law Enforcement Officers.

    He said  government officials of the new reformed and restructured LASBCA officials aimed at working together with the people for their own safety and for a safer and a well-planned smart- city.

  • LASBCA embarks on sensitisation

    The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has reiterated the government’s zero tolerance for distressed  and abandoned structures.

    Its General Manager, Lekan Shodeinde, an engineer, spoke during the agency’s  sensitisation on the Lagos Island.

    Shodehinde said distressed buildings collapse more during the rainy season. He said the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was determined to achieve zero incidence of building collapse, without room for abandoned buildings, and illegal developments,  among others, to ensure a better physical environment.

    Shodeinde said sustainable physical development required the participation of every Lagosian for implementation of laws and regulations. No responsible government, the LASBCA boss said, would watch her citizens die without taking precautionary measures.

    “LASBCA will come down hard with the law on defaulters who decide to break government seal, illegal contravention of building laws, construction of new buildings without approval, and non-conforming to building strategies, among others,” he said.

    Shodeinde stressed that people disregarded laws on building construction which resultant effects were worrisome.

    He advised developers to engage structural engineers, builders, architects, and other artisans before embarking on construction, adding that developers should also use quality materials.

    Head of Enlightenment Department Mrs. Taiwo Ajose said sensitisation was a re-awakening to the fact that the government and the people needed to collaborate not only to stem building collapse, but to also ensure that people built in compliance with physical planning laws.

    Lagos Island Local Government Chairman, represented by his deputy Waheed Bashorun, urged  Lagosians to comply with the laws to avoid any  embarrassment from law enforcement officers. He said  officials of the restructured LASBCA were working with the people for their safety and for a safer Lagos.

    He implored the public, particularly developers and property owners on Lagos Island, to help the government and shun sharp practices in construction.

    “We, as a people desire a better city, a smart city where almost everything works. This is attainable when the government and her citizens work together as a team,” Bashorun added.