Lagos Residents Write Governor Sanwo-Olu, Raise Alarm Over Threat To Life By Monarch's New Building

 

Residents and business owners in Victoria Island, Lagos State, have raised the alarm over a new multi-floor building under construction which they claimed poses serious risks to lives and property in the neighbourhood.

The affected residents revealed that the building located on Saka Tinubu Street, Victoria Island, is allegedly owned by a tra­ditional ruler in the South West.

The residents in a “save our soul” message to Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu alleged that the multi-floor construc­tion has failed to meet basic safety standards, thereby causing damage to cars and other properties parked in offices in adjoining compounds around the building.

According to them, the developers have not provided essential safeguards such as barricades, safety nets, and protective coverings that are mandatory when building next to occupied properties.

As a result, debris from the site including planks, stones, and metal fittings has crashed into adjoining compounds, damaging cars, walls, ceilings, and windows.

They said that the situation has become a daily hazard, with fears mounting that lives could be lost if urgent intervention is not carried out.

“The building owned by a top tra­ditional ruler in the South West, failed to provide ade­quate safety measures such as barricades, safety nets and protective structures, which are required when building next to other properties,” the residents said in the message to the government.

“This has led to boulders and planks falling off the building into other compounds, caus­ing damage to walls, windows, ceilings and cars.

“More importantly, there are genuine fears that falling planks and pebbles could harm innocent people in the other premises and even lead to death.

“We are living in fear every day. Planks and pebbles keep falling into our compounds, and sometimes narrowly miss people walking around. The damage to cars and offices is already bad enough, but what if someone is killed?”

The concerned residents questioned why the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), which is responsible for monitoring building works across the state, has not moved to stop the violations at the site.