Lagos serves 30-day notice to owners of residential buildings converted to clubs, worship centres

The Lagos government has given a 30-day final notice to owners of buildings converted to churches, mosques, and clubhouses without approval.

The state government asked those who have illegally converted their buildings to revert to original use of the structures.

In a statement on Tuesday, Gbolahan Oki, the general manager, Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), said the order applies to buildings located in residential areas, which were converted to other purposes without approval.

Oki said the distortion of the Lagos masterplan by those who illegally convert buildings, constitutes a “nuisance to the environment”.

He added that the state government had received several complaints especially from the Lekki axis, on the “adverse effects” of residential buildings being used as clubhouses and worship centres.

He said the notice became imperative following repeated complaints of non-adherence to safety and security guidelines by club owners.

The general manager said those who have converted their buildings in residential areas without approval should evict occupants before the expiration of the 30-day notice.

He added that the state government will not give a further notice before “outright removal of such non-conforming buildings at the cost of the owners”.

He said LASBCA had earlier identified the illegal and non-conforming structures and sent enforcement notices to the owners.

Oki said those who got the notices “either failed or refused to respond to the notices, hence the service of this final notice”.