Lagos State Targets Satellite Town Complex for Demolition Over Safety Concerns

The Lagos State administration has directed the dismantling of the Article Shopping Complex situated in Satellite Town. Furthermore, property owners and traders operating within two significant markets in the Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area—Agric and Coker markets—have been given a two-week deadline to conduct structural integrity assessments on their deteriorating buildings, a move spurred by heightened anxieties regarding building safety. This enforcement action, led by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), took place on Thursday following detailed inspections. These examinations, conducted at the Article Shopping Complex in the Oriade Local Council Development Area and the Agric and Coker markets located in the Odun-Ade vicinity, uncovered numerous commercial structures in various states of disrepair.

During the inspection, Mr. Kolawole Williams, who serves as the Director of Quality Control and Post-Construction for LASBCA’s Badagry Division, affirmed the state government’s resolve. He stated that authorities would not waver in their commitment to remove hazardous buildings, aiming to avert future structural failures. Williams emphasized, "The Lagos State Government is determined to minimise the incidence of building collapse in the state. We will continue to enforce building standards because the safety of Lagosians remains our priority."

Williams also revealed that all occupants of the Article Shopping Complex would be moved out prior to its scheduled demolition. He noted that an office structure, which was being erected on the already compromised building, had been brought down during the recent operation. The complex, he added, had already been flagged for demolition previously and is notably close to a three-storey building that collapsed just last week, resulting in the tragic loss of nine lives.

According to Williams, assessments conducted across the surveyed markets indicated that approximately 90 percent of the buildings examined exhibited various levels of structural compromise. Specifically at the Agric Market, officials scrutinized ten blocks of three-storey buildings. Many of these structures showed significant deterioration, yet they remained operational, housing traders dealing in building materials. It was highlighted that LASBCA had previously marked these particular buildings as distressed on January 29, 2026, despite which commercial operations persisted within their premises.

The enforcement team extended its visit to the Coker Market, where a dozen three-storey commercial blocks were put under scrutiny. A number of these buildings had experienced partial structural failures, yet business activities carried on without interruption, with traders continuing to occupy the compromised structures. While market leaders informed officials that attempts were being made to mend some of the damaged buildings, the agency dismissed this explanation, stressing that mere repairs cannot replace a thorough professional structural assessment.

Williams confirmed that a 14-day window has been granted to property owners of the distressed buildings in both Agric and Coker markets. Within this period, they are mandated to carry out structural integrity tests and submit the findings to LASBCA before any subsequent governmental decisions are made. He reiterated, "Integrity tests will determine the structural condition of these buildings before the government decides the next line of action."

He issued a stern caution, stating that any property owners who disregard the government’s directives concerning distressed buildings would face legal action. Williams declared, "We have district officers and personnel monitoring buildings across the state. Anyone who violates safety directives will be prosecuted in accordance with the law."

This recent enforcement drive aligns with the Lagos State Government's intensified campaign to enhance adherence to building regulations, prompted by a series of building collapses recorded throughout the state in recent months.