The Lagos State Building Control Agency demolished Block 341, a residential building within the Abesan Housing Estate, on July 12, due to critical structural defects. The demolition has left a trail of anguish, trepidation, and fear among landlords and tenants in the area. Many residents are now worried that a similar fate may befall their own buildings. The estate was conceived as part of efforts to provide affordable housing for ordinary Lagos residents.
The demolition has raised questions about the condition of buildings in the estate and elsewhere in Lagos, the enforcement of building regulations, and the financial burden of integrity tests and repairs. Some residents, including landlords who are retired civil servants, are having sleepless nights over the development. They rely on rent from their buildings as their main source of income. The leadership of the estate has assured residents that they will not be abandoned to their fate.
Pastor Kehinde Ogundimu, President-General of the United Medium and Low-Cost Housing Estate Residents' Association in Lagos State, confirmed the residents' concerns. He said the demolition has generated widespread apprehension among residents, with many fearing that what happened to one person could happen to another. However, Ogundimu assured residents that the estate's leadership is taking steps to address the situation.
The residents' association has established a compliance and monitoring team to examine the condition of buildings in Abesan Estate. The team is encouraging residents to address structural and maintenance problems before they become subjects of government enforcement. Engineer Tunde Showole, Head of the Abesan Residents' Estate Association Building Compliance and Enforcement Team, said another building adjacent to the demolished structure was identified as being in a dilapidated condition.
The occupants of the adjacent building were served a notice and directed to conduct an integrity test on the building, which is estimated to cost about N450,000. This amount is considered financially burdensome for many residents of the low-income estate. The dilemma highlights the contradiction at the heart of Lagos' housing problem: residents are being asked to preserve and maintain the existing housing stock at a time when the cost of doing so is becoming increasingly unaffordable.
The situation has also raised concerns about the presence of different government agencies carrying out enforcement activities. Residents have encountered officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency, while another state agency has also marked buildings in the estate over alleged contraventions. Residents are confused about which agency is responsible for enforcing compliance and how they should respond to different directives.
Stakeholders, including Ogundimu, are calling for regular engagement and clearer communication between regulators and residents. They suggest that stakeholders' meetings involving residents, estate associations, and relevant government agencies should be held regularly to focus on building maintenance, safety standards, and early intervention. The Abesan incident highlights the need for a comprehensive approach to addressing Lagos' wider housing challenge.
Key points
- The demolition of Block 341 has raised concerns about the condition of buildings in Abesan Estate and the financial burden of integrity tests and repairs on low-income residents.
- The residents' association has established a compliance and monitoring team to address structural and maintenance problems in the estate.
- The incident highlights the need for clearer communication and regular engagement between regulators and residents to prevent similar situations in the future.
