By Ayo Kehinde
Lagos State government has issued a stern warning to landlords who have flouted approved plans and converted their residencies for use as clubhouses, bars, churches and mosques.
The warning is coming on the heels of complaints by Lagos citizens amid worsened insecurity in the country.
Disclosing this in a statement on his official X handle on Tuesday, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, warned the defaulting landlords to revert the buildings to the original use approved by the state government before the deadline or risk their structures being pulled down.
Wahab said, “Lagos State Government has given 30-day final notice to owners/occupiers of residential buildings illegally converted to churches, mosques, clubhouses, lounges, and bars across the state without approval for change of use, to revert to the original use of the structure.
“The notice is a sequel to the distortion of the master plan of Lagos State, especially residential areas, by some people who in gross disregard to the regulatory provisions of the law turned residential areas into clubhouses and worship centres thereby constituting a nuisance to the environment.
“The removal notice became imperative following security concerns of citizens and repeated complaints of non-adherence to safety and security guidelines issued to the club owners.
“Any owner of buildings in residential areas that have been converted to churches, mosques, clubs, bars or lounges without the requisite approvals should evict such occupants before the expiration of the 30 days’ final notice as the state will not give further notice of sealing but outright removal of such non-conforming buildings at the cost of the owners.’’
