Federal Government Urged to Address Abandoned Buildings in Lagos
President Bola Tinubu has been urged to take action on the declining condition of some national landmarks and Federal Government property in the Ikoyi neighborhood of Lagos State by the Building Collapse Prevention Guild’s Ikoyi-Obalende chapter.
The association said in a statement provided to The PUNCH that there has been a recent pattern of building collapses in the state’s Ikoyi district and that this is unusual in the area’s history and is characterized by tight adherence to construction norms.
“The Building Collapse Prevention Guild Ikoyi-Obalende Cell wishes to bring to the attention of His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu on the deteriorating state of some national monuments/ Federal Government property within our oversight area, Ikoyi, where Mr. President’s personal residence is located,” the statement read. “As this administration approaches its first anniversary in office.”
The group expressed concerns regarding safety and security, noting that the area’s abandoned Federal Government buildings had turned into crime hotspots.
The Federal Secretariat Complex, Ikoyi Towers, and other Federal Government buildings are reportedly among those that have been abandoned, according to the guild.
One of the most noteworthy of these deserted Federal Government structures is the multi-story Federal Secretariat Complex in Ikoyi, which was once a shining example of pride in the country.
“The Ikoyi Towers, which are also owned by the Federal Government and consist of three 12-story buildings with the letters A, B, and C behind the defunct Federal Secretariat, are another example. It is imperative that these multi-billion dollar public investments are not wasted, particularly in light of the current crisis facing the affordable housing market.”
They demanded revitalization initiatives to protect these historic sites and lessen the detrimental effects on stakeholders and the people living in Ikoyi.
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“According to our records, there have been five building collapse incidents in Ikoyi,” it continued. Ikoyi’s reputation has been damaged by some dilapidated Federal Government buildings in our neighborhood that have been turned into safe havens for squatters, illegal inhabitants, drug dealers, and criminals.
We are worried that their accelerated deterioration is being caused in part by their unoccupied state and lack of routine maintenance.
“The multi-story Federal Secretariat Complex, Ikoyi, is noteworthy among these abandoned Federal Government buildings; it was a faded symbol of national pride in its prime.”
Considering the detrimental effects of such abandoned buildings on the social, economic, safety, and security aspects of any affluent neighborhood, the organization urged the President to use his power to encourage the reconstruction of Ikoyi’s damaged infrastructure.
In its petition, the group said, “We implore Your Excellency to call for peace and possibly out-of-court negotiations to mitigate the wanton economic waste of the Federal Secretariat Complex as we mark the first anniversary of your administration.”
Public-private partnerships have the potential to convert the Ikoyi Towers into a variety of imaginative mixed-use uses, including affordable residential units, technological hubs for developers, co-working spaces for small and medium-sized businesses, and more.
“We kindly request that you, Mr. President, utilize your high position to alert the concerned parties to the necessity of clearing out these possible havens for illicit activity that could degrade the standard of living in this neighborhood in Ikoyi.”
Recall that on November 1, 2021, a 21-story building located at 42 Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, fell, killing at least 42 people—among them, Femi Osibona, the property owner.
