Guild, residents worry as building ‘contraventions’ threaten lives, properties

The Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG) has raised alarm over possible threat to lives and properties posed by development contraventions in and around Osborne Estate II in Ikoyi, Lagos. The Ikoyi – Obalende cell of the BCPG, which made the assertion in a press statement made available to Daily Trust, said ongoing constructions at the […]

The Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG) has raised alarm over possible threat to lives and properties posed by development contraventions in and around Osborne Estate II in Ikoyi, Lagos.

The Ikoyi – Obalende cell of the BCPG, which made the assertion in a press statement made available to Daily Trust, said ongoing constructions at the estate posed density, social, environmental, infrastructural and economic threats to residents.

“We took a tour of the estate to see some ongoing developments. The construction seemed impressive but poses an extremely alarming concern on density, social impact, environmental impact, infrastructural impact and possibly economic threats,” the statement, signed by QS. Tomi Ogundare and Arc. Bola Arilesere, coordinator and secretary of the cell, said.

The guild insisted that the concerns should have been considered before statutory planning approval was given, saying members of the estate’s association alleged that when they requested to see the approved plans of the developments, the developer refused and has since been uncooperative.

“The association further confirmed that the developer got his development sites in the estate sealed by dint of a call that was made by the association to the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, only to have them unsealed by the same ministry, after two days,” the statement added.

The guild further explained that the number of residents per square metre is in excess in the context of Osborne Estate II, adding that the clamming up of buildings in an attempt to house as many residents as possible, compromises fundamental functionalities like air space.

“The infrastructure of the estate is not left out; just consider road and drainage needs for such high density, vis-a-vis the flooding menace, which currently confronts the estate.

“In addition, traffic management matter is another area of consideration. These are areas that ought to have been checked, studied, resolved and presented before planning approval is issued.

“It may just be that the increased amount of flooding in the nearby Dolphin Estate is partially or fully caused by the drainage and free stormwater flow blocked deliberately, and in some cases, inadvertently, by these developments.

“Future pollution which is seeming inevitable of the seawater as well as other threats being posed by these developments will surely have direct effects on the nearby estates: Dolphin, Osborne I, and Ilubirin.

“The residents of both Osborne II and surrounding estates are hereby called upon to arise and take the necessary actions to protect their lives and property, as well as their future from dangers that can be clearly avoided by just being responsible,” the statement further stressed.

The BCPG also called on the government, as well as other stakeholders, to make effort to salvage the situation.

Similarly, the chairperson of Osborne Estate Phase II, Chinwe H. Ezenwa, stressed that there was a lot of ‘overbuilding’ in the estate, saying phase II is 3000 square metres for which the original building plan approval was for 32 units but that the developer, in total disregard to the authorities, built 84 units.

She alleged that the Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Idris Salako, was alerted to the danger the developments in the estate posed to residents and that he came and sealed up the site but after two days, came back with the developer, Lekki Gardens, and unsealed it.

When the commissioner was contacted through a text message, he urged our reporter to go to his office to see the building plan documents which would determine whether he compromised or not.

But he later asked the Assistant Director, Public Affairs of his ministry, Mukaila Sanusi, to explain to Daily Trust what happened.

Sanusi said the residents are not being truthful with their allegations, as according to him, the association invited the ministry when they noticed that there were building infractions in the estate.

“We had sealed and announced that an audit of the estate would be carried out. Our modus operandi is to request for sealed properties to produce their approvals and when produced, we can unseal.

“Whatever property the Hon. Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Idris Salako, unsealed had approvals which had been sighted. So we unsealed having sighted the approvals,” he explained in a WhatsApp message.

He reiterated that it was the ministry that determined building contraventions based on the provisions of the law and not the residents.

On the part of Lekki Gardens, their lawyer, Barr. Steve Agbiboa, did not reply to a text message sent to him requesting him to respond to the issues raised by BCPG and the residents.

“When our reporter called him on Saturday, he said he was driving and would call back but did not at the time of filing this report.