Today, the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode ordered occupants in all houses built by Lekki Gardens to vacate their apartments in order for integrity test to be carried out on all the buildings to ascertain their safety.
He gave this order when he visited the scene of the 5-storey collapsed building which killed 35 people last Tuesday.
He was displeased with what he saw and ordered immediate action. He said the developer should take responsibility of the relocation of occupants of the buildings as government would not wait for the buildings to kill other people.
He said: “The State Government will undertake a stability test on all other buildings constructed by the developer in the state, whether occupied or not, to ascertain their structural stability. The developer will pay the cost of the tests. Any building found to be defective would be demolished.
For those that pass the integrity test, the developer will pay a penalty for any overdevelopment on the site. Further to the above, the State Government intends to carry out an audit of all structures in Lagos to ascertain those with planning approval or not and evaluate the physical development against the approved building plans. .
Let me reiterate that Lagos is open to business for those who must comply with the state’s laws and regulations in order to prosper. Our main concern is to continue to improve on the ease of doing business and uphold the rule of law at all times. Those who choose non-compliance and defiance will henceforth face the full weight of the law without fear or favour.” –