The Lagos State Government has said it would demolish the distressed building of Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church in the Gbagada area of the state.’>>>CONTINUE FULL READING HERE....CONTINUE READING THE ARTICLE FROM THE SOURCE
According to the state government, the church building is to be removed for failing structural integrity tests and showing visible signs of distress.
This was disclosed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Enterprise Geographical Information System (eGIS), Dr. Olajide Babatunde, while on a routine inspection of the church building.
The church building had been sealed by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) to ensure that agreements with the church are strictly adhered to.’>>>CONTINUE FULL READING HERE
Babatunde decried the non-compliance of the church to all the agreements reached, noted that the state has no other option than to commence the control demolition of the church building immediately to forestall the loss of properties and human lives.
He said: “Agreement has been reached with the management of the church to bring down the building and make it stay on just ground level because the foundation of the building cannot withstand the load it is carrying presently and the soil situation of the area is not very good. But unfortunately, the church has not complied with the agreement”.
“There is no possibility of renovating the building because the Non-Destructive Test (NDT), seismic test and other necessary tests carried out on the building show that the church building cannot stand”.
The Special Adviser warned that no activity of any kind must be held inside the church auditorium, adding that nobody should be found sleeping or loitering inside the church building.
Babatunde called on property owners in the state to undertake structural tests of their buildings every five years to ascertain their structural fitness for habitation in line with the state building regulations.
For tenants renting properties, he advised them to ensure that such properties possess all necessary approvals, especially the Certificate of Completion and Fitness for Habitation issued by LASBCA before concluding the tenancy agreement.
Babatunde, who reiterated the state’s commitment to safeguarding the lives and properties of the citizenry through consistent monitoring, enforcement and identification of illegal, distressed and non-conforming structures; enjoined Lagosians to report all forms of illegality in their locality to any of the 57 offices of LASBCA spread across the state for appropriate action.’>>>CONTINUE FULL READING HERE
