Ikoyi resident petitions Sanwo-Olu over alleged illegal construction at Glover Road site
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A Lagos resident has asked Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to order an independent inspection of a construction site at 28C Glover Road, Ikoyi, alleging the developer built without a mandatory setback and that falling scaffolding forced his family to leave their home.
A Lagos resident, Kelvin Gabriel, has petitioned Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu over what he described as a life-threatening construction project at 28C Glover Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Gabriel, who said he is the immediate neighbour to the property, alleged that the developer constructed the building without the mandatory setback, putting it directly against his fence line.
In the petition, titled 'Save-Our-Soul (SOS) - Life-Threatening Illegal Construction at 28C Glover Road, Ikoyi', the resident said the situation had created serious safety concerns for his family. According to him, the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) sealed the property after allegedly confirming that the construction violated regulations.
He however claimed that the property was illegally unsealed days later and that construction resumed without the developer complying with the relevant requirements. Gabriel alleged that since work resumed, scaffolding, planks, iron rods and concrete had repeatedly fallen around his premises, creating what he described as a constant risk of injury, and that his own building had developed cracks which he attributed to piling activities and heavy vibrations.
Gabriel said the situation eventually forced him to rent another apartment for his children, with his wife also moving out with them, and questioned why agencies responsible for protecting lives and property would allow the construction to continue after the property had been sealed.
He appealed to the governor to direct an independent agency or panel outside LASPPPA and the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) to carry out an unannounced inspection of the development, and to intervene before what he described as a preventable tragedy occurs.