Lagos Govt Demolishes Distressed Building in Abesan Estate, Evacuates Occupants

Lagos Govt Demolishes Distressed Building in Abesan Estate, Evacuates Occupants

The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has evacuated occupants and commenced the controlled demolition of a distressed residential building at Akinyele Bus Stop in Abesan Estate, Lagos, after structural experts declared the structure unsafe for human habitation.

The intervention followed a distress call from a concerned resident who alerted the agency through its toll-free line after noticing visible signs of severe structural defects in the building. Acting on the report, LASBCA officials stormed the estate on Saturday for an on-the-spot assessment of the property.

The inspection confirmed that the building had suffered critical structural defects, posing an imminent danger to lives and property. Following the assessment, all occupants were immediately evacuated to prevent any loss of life, while the controlled demolition of the structure got underway in line with the agency's statutory responsibility to safeguard lives and property.

The General Manager of LASBCA, Gbaye Florence, commended the resident whose timely report enabled the agency to intervene before the situation deteriorated further, noting that the swift action helped avert what could have resulted in a tragic incident.

The agency said it would continue to monitor buildings across the state and enforce compliance with building safety regulations, urging residents to promptly report distressed, abandoned, or visibly defective structures. Members of the public can reach LASBCA through its toll-free line, 07000-527222 (07000-LASBCA), to report building safety concerns for prompt intervention.

Reactions from Abesan Estate residents have been mixed. Some commended the intervention as necessary, though tinged with concern for the occupants' losses. Reacting on the Abesan News Facebook page, resident Taofeeq Adeosun defended the manner of the evacuation, explaining that the building had tilted and was gradually sinking, and that allowing occupants back in to retrieve belongings could have resulted in fatalities, adding that life is more precious than property. Another resident, Jo Ashcroft, described the incident as a lesson for occupiers across the estate to cooperate on maintenance, and called on landlords to prioritise necessary repairs rather than simply raising rents.

Not all reactions were reassured. Resident Majekodunmi Yetty Nifemi argued that occupants should have been allowed to retrieve their property before the demolition began, expressing worry over valuables, including an air conditioner, believed to still be inside. Prince Adebisi Oluwafemi voiced a broader concern shared by some residents, that the government could in future cite structural defects as justification to take over the wider estate, a fear he said had circulated in the community before, and urged residents to stay alert. Others, including Abiodun Diyan, said they saw some items being carried out of the compound during the exercise, while several commenters simply expressed shock at the incident.