LASPPPA clampdown on illegal structures

The General Manager, Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA), Funmi Osifuye, has reinforced its clampdown on illegally-sited gas and filling stations.

He said obeying physical planning permit laws would avert disasters such as the gas explosion in Baruwa. He said the owner of the property on which the gas plant operated did not obtain a planning permit.

Osifuye, who spoke at a meeting with the staff members of the Monitoring and Compliance Unit and District Officers of LASPPPA, said:  “LASPPPA is poised to enforce the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Laws without exception and we will not spare any structures; built or under construction without valid Physical Planning Permit Approval or being built in contravention to approvals granted.”

He said the agency received petitions from community development associations and concerned individuals on their concern on structures that pose dangers to their communities.

Among the petitions addressed were a gas station at Amule Busstop Ayobo, another at Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi, illegal LPG gas plant at Oluyeye Street, off Mafolukwu Oshodi and another at Ijeh Obalende which were sealed.

On the way forward, he said they were working on decomissioning such sealed gas and petrol filling stations safely.

He said 30 structures, including 11 petrol stations, shopping malls, hotels and supermarkets, have been sealed by his agency at the Agbado-Ipaja District area for contravention of physical planning laws.

Osifuye noted that the sealing of the properties was in continuation of activities by his agency to ensure sanity in the built sector, adding that nine filling stations and 11 other commercial buildings were also sealed and served closure notices at the Igando, Iba, LASU and Ikotun areas.

“In Somolu, Bariga, and Onipanu, our enforcement team issued 20 notices which included contravention and seal up notices on structures earlier served notices which did not address issues in the notices. The structures include filling stations, commercial properties and other structures under construction. We also sealed 15 buildings located on Cardoso Road, Baruwa, the area gas explosion occurred,”he noted.