Evict occupants of buildings illegally converted to bars, mosques, churches within 30 days – LASG warns Landlords

The Lagos State Government has issued a 30-day final notice to owners and occupiers of residential buildings that have been illegally converted into churches, mosques, clubhouses, lounges, and bars without the necessary approval for change of use. The General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Arc. Gbolahan Owodunni Oki, emphasized that this notice applies to all structures used for these purposes within residential areas and without the required permits from relevant authorities.

Oki highlighted that this notice is a response to the violation of Lagos State’s masterplan, particularly in residential areas, where some individuals have disregarded regulatory provisions and transformed residential buildings into clubhouses and worship centers, causing a disturbance to the environment. He further explained that the issuance of this removal notice is necessary due to security concerns raised by citizens and repeated complaints regarding non-compliance with safety and security guidelines provided to club owners.

According to Oki, owners of buildings in residential areas that have been converted without the necessary approvals must ensure the eviction of such occupants before the expiration of the 30-day final notice. Failure to comply will result in the state taking action to remove these non-conforming buildings at the expense of the owners, without any further notice of sealing.

“We are providing a one-month final notice, starting from the 29th of January, for owners to revert to the original plan or face the removal of such buildings at their own cost,” warned Oki.

He emphasized that LASBCA had previously identified these illegal and non-conforming structures and had served statutory enforcement notices. However, the affected individuals have either failed or refused to respond to these notices, leading to the issuance of this final notice.