PROPERTY NEWS

In a bid to avert the collapse of structurally defective buildings in the Lagos metropolis, the Lagos Sate Government has directed that 38 buildings at the Adeniji Adele Housing Estate, Lagos Island, found to be defective, should be demolished without further delay.

The said buildings are among the 130 housing units built by the administration of a former governor of the state, Alhaji Lateef Jakande over 20 years ago.

In a statement made available to Daily Independent by the Press and Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency, Mrs. Olabisi Adeola, the demolition order was conveyed to the residents of the estate by the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Bolaji Abosede, at a meeting with representatives of the residents last weekend.

According to the statement, Abosede told the residents that the government had made provision for temporary accommodation for the occupants, who would be affected by the demolition.

He pointed out that the planned demolition was in line with the Governor Babatunde Fashola administration's commitment to security of lives and property of the residents, adding that the exercise would afford the government the opportunity of carrying out a comprehensive redesign and re-planning of the estate.

The commissioner noted that some experts had been contracted by the state government to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and soil analysis test of the estate in order to determine the strength of the soil.

He admitted that erosion, poor sewage system and collapses of the drainage contributed to the estate's problems, pointing out, that experts had been consulted to work on how to improve the drainage system in the neighbourhood to allow for free discharge of water into the canal.

Abosede reiterated government's commitment to the redevelopment of the estate, He was quick to add, that a similar thing had been successfully done in Oluwole and Isale Igangan in Lagos Island Local Government Area.

He said that over 40 families were relocated in both places during the reconstruction exercise. He noted that the families however, moved back into the estates after completing their reconstruction.