Illegal Conversion: Lagos Shuts Zenith, UBA, 3 Other banks, 80 Buildings
Officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency, (LASBCA), on Tuesday sealed off five banks and over 80 buildings at Allen Avenue, in Ikeja area of the state over illegal conversion.
The affected banks are Zenith, Access, Sterling, Unity and UBA at Allen Avenue. Also shut were Tantalizer, Adebowale Electronics, Panasonic and several other buildings used for commercial purposes.
LABSCA officials, accompanied by task force officials began the sealing exercise from Allen Roundabout all through to the end of Allen on both sides of the dual carriageway around 7:45am, beginning with Tantalizer.
The exercise was led by Mr. Tayo Fakolujo, LASBCA Secretary and Mr. Kayode Daramola, a director in the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA).
At Zenith Bank, LASBCA officials drove out the customers and bank officials before sealing the premises, while at Unity Bank, the premises was sealed before it opened for business.
The government said the affected buildings were giving approval for residential and were later converted for commercial purposes for which no approval was granted.
General Manager, LASBCA, Engr. Lekan Shodeinde said the affected buildings had been issued notices over one month ago to come forward to regularise their documents and get commercial approval, but that only few property owners whose buildings had been converted to commercial purposes showed up.
