Why Your Building May Be Demolished In LAGOS

• City People Reveals 10 Reasons To Know

Building demolition or removal by the government or an individual is another important aspect of development control that should not be taken with levity. Any individual willing to demolish his or her building for any reason must ensure that Demolition Permit is obtained from Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority. This is to guide against unforseen circumstances.

However, if government is to carry out demolition exercises for the overriding public interest, due process must be followed. The processes include but not limited to: 1. Identification of the properties to be demolished; 2. Survey Description and Service of Acquisition Notice ( if the property is to be acquired. 3. Publication/ Gazetting 4. Meeting with the stakeholders. 5. Property valuation. 6. Compensation or Relocation plan. 7. Service of all Statutory notices etc.

The following are factors that could lead to the demolition of  your property. Lack of Planning Permit: For every person who wants to embark on any construction in Lagos, he or she must obtain Planning permit from the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit. There are many situations where you may need a planning permit, a building permit or both. This depends on your planned works, as well as the types of overlays and planning zones on your property.

Building permits relate specifically to the carrying out of building construction, where as planning permits are legal documents giving permission for a land use or development.

Non conformity with Planning regulations and standards: This is also similar to the point raised above. For every builder, Lagos State for instance. You must obey planning regulations of a particular community or area. In a particular Lekki area of Lagos, you are not allowed to build more than 3-4 storeys.

Buildings within the right of way of proposed project and High Tension line, etc: This is another crucial point. People aren’t allowed to build under the high tension. If you do so, such structure will be demolished. The second point is that, many houses are built on a government proposed land in Lagos. Such houses were not approved in the first place. Majority of houses have been demolished as a result of this.

Buildings within Government Acquisition: another point is when you build or construct on a government acquisition land, your property is not safe and can be demolished at any time. It’s government property and the government can not award approval for any body who wants to build on the land. Such land is always a trap for any investor, as land grabbers try to woo people to buy cheap there.

Road blockage: Some houses or structures are built on roads. If you are building in Lagos, you must not extend it beyond the approval area. If you are building facing a road, try and stick with the approved area you are given by the government. A lot of landlords in Lagos will build a block of shops as additional to the original house the government approved.

Distressed building susceptible to collapse not safe for human habitation: when a house is marked for demolition, such house will be demolished. There are several houses in Lagos that are distressed as a result of bad materials, incompetence of builder or time factor.

Construction with poor materials and not supervised by a qualified professionals: This is common in every where in Nigeria. A lot of people cut corners in order to make additional gain. If you build with poor materials especially in Lagos, the government agency will come down hard on such person and this could result to demolition of such structure.

Buildings not friendly with the environment: If you build on a drainage or anywhere that is not approved by the government, such structure risks demolition. You must make sure your structure meets the demand of the government in such area.

Buildings that failed Non- Intergrity Test; Dilapidated and Abandoned buildings.

This is similar to the point mentioned above.

Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory (LSMTL) Law of 2006 was enacted to curb the incidence of incessant collapse of building and civil engineering infrastructures. The main objective of the law is to test the materials used for quality assurance. If your structure fails such test it will be demolished

– Isaac Abimbade

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