A former Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Adeniyi Oyemade, has raised the alarm over a building under construction in Banana Island, Lagos, claiming that it posed a serious risk to the safety of residents, including his family.

The construction, managed by Attarhi Nigeria Limited, is located at Plot 37B Zone J, 218 Close, Banana Island, Ikoyi.

Oyemade alleged that the ongoing project threatened his property due to structural damage caused by the construction activities, including the collapse of his fence.

The former commissioner and a two-time member of the Lagos House of Assembly, added that the building encroached on his property.

He demanded that the developer should provide a three-meter setback from his fence to mitigate potential future damage.

“I am simply asking them to keep their building three meters away from my fence to prevent any more risk to my property,” Oyemade said.

Despite submitting several petitions to the Lagos State Building Control Agency and the issuance of a stop-work order, Oyemade claimed that construction work had continued unabated.

During a visit to the site by our correspondent, a stop-work order was visibly posted on the reconstructed fence, but workers were still present, continuing their work.

Oyemade disclosed that letters were sent to both the developer and the commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, but he had yet to see any resolution, as construction was still ongoing.

A contravention notice issued by the Lagos State Building Control Agency to the developer, along with letters addressed to the commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, signed by Oyemade’s lawyer, Robert Emukpoeruo, SAN, was seen by Saturday PUNCH.

When contacted for comment, a Director at Attarhi Nigeria Limited, Obinna Chukwuneta, denied the allegations, insisting that a three-meter setback was maintained from the fence before construction began.

He explained that the sealing of the site by LASBCA was due to misinformation, adding that the agency later unsealed the site after confirming that proper setbacks were in place.

“We wrote a letter to Banana Island before starting, explaining our plans, and informed them that digging near our neighbour’s foundation could affect his fence,” Chukwuneta said.

“When the fence was cracked, we took full responsibility and rebuilt it. The fence did not collapse; it cracked, but we fixed it immediately.”

Chukwuneta further alleged that Oyemade had attempted to strike a business deal with the company, seeking N2.6bn in exchange for cooperation, which the company could not fulfill.

He also alleged that Oyemade’s wife proposed a joint venture with the company to develop property, but the deal failed when the money was not provided.

In response to the counter allegations, Oyemade denied involvement in plans to engage in business transactions with the developers.

He said, “Whatever they are referring to is completely false.

“Since they (the firm and Mrs Oyemade) could not proceed with the partnership, it doesn’t give them the right to build over my fence. Is that the reason they would encroach on my property?”

When contacted, the Director of Public Affairs at the Lagos State Building Control Agency, Adu Ademuyiwa, confirmed that any structure marked for demolition would be pulled down in accordance with the law.

Speaking on the matter, Ademuyiwa stated, “Definitely, if a place has been marked, it will be pulled down. Before the marking, we would have issued a notice to the property owner. We have served the necessary notice, and we are going to remove it.”


https://punchng.com/ex-lagos-commissioner-alleges-imminent-building-collapse-on-banana-island/