Lagos State Government may soon clamp down on all structures used as bars, clubhouses or religious centres located within residential areas and without a requisite permit from relevant government authorities.
To this end, the state government has given a 30-day notice to owners and occupants of residential buildings converted without approval, urging them to revert to the original use.
In a statement released on Tuesday and signed by the Director of Public Affairs, Olaoye Olusegun, the General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency, Gbolahan Oki, said the notice applied to all structures used as bars, clubhouses or religious centres located within residential areas and without a requisite permit from relevant authorities.
Oki said, “The notice is sequel to the distortion of the master plan of Lagos State, especially residential areas by some people who in gross disregard to the regulatory provisions of the law turned residential areas into clubhouses and worship centres thereby constituting a nuisance to the environment.
“The removal notice became imperative, following security concerns of citizens, and repeated complaints of non-adherence to safety and security guidelines issued to the club owners.”
Oki maintained that LASBCA had earlier identified the illegal and non-conforming structures and had served the statutory enforcement notices but those affected had either failed or refused to respond to the notices, hence the service of this final notice.
He warned, “Any owner of buildings in residential areas that have been converted to churches, mosques, clubs, bars or lounges without the requisite approvals should evict such occupants before the expiration of the 30 days final notice as the state will not give further notice of sealing but outright removal of such non-conforming buildings at the cost of the owners.
“We are giving them one month’s final notice from today 29th of January to revert all properties converted to churches, mosques, clubs and bars to revert to the original plan or have such buildings removed at their expense.”
Oki asserted residents of areas designated as residential places especially elderly people in the Lekki axis and its environs have repeatedly called on the state government to save their souls following the adverse effects of the conversions of properties in the area to churches, mosques, and bars, clubs and lounges, was having on their health and security of the area.
