The Lagos State Building Control Agency, saddled with the responsibility of regulating approved structures of buildings in Lagos state have been called upon to intervene in an illegal re-construction and conversion of a residential home into a commercial structure in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos Island.

In a petition sent and delivered at the Agency’s office on Oba Akinjobi way, Ikeja, Lagos, Mrs. Atinuke Ajayi Fashola condemned strongly the unapproved venture of her tenant, one Mrs. Ronke Ademiluyi in converting her property into a commercial property.

As a result of the “undue trespass” into my property, Mrs. Fashola has therefore been slammed by the Lagos state’s land Use Charge with a commercial evaluation, which according to her is the consequence of Mrs. Ademiluyi’s act.

Part of the petition reads in part, “I urge your office to intervene into the illegal conversion of our premises’ usage from residential to commercial purposes by one of our tenants at 14A Cottage Drive, Lekki Phase 1, Eti-Osa local government area of Lagos”.

She asserted that the premises at the above address originally remained a residential house as at 3 years ago when the property was let out to one Mrs. Ronke Ademiluyi, organisers of African Fashion Week in London.

She said, “I was shocked to see that the entire premises had been suddenly converted to commercial usage with wall fence (frontage) broken to reveal the commercial activities being carried out within the property”.

The said conversion, according to Mrs. Fashola was done without her consent and without due development/renovation permit of the state government’s approval.

After several correspondences with the tenant, it was gathered that Mrs. Ademiluyi could not provide solid reason for her action, which we learnt had broken down relationship between the two parties.

But because of Mrs. Fashola’s stance of acting under the confines of the law, she therefore sought the intervention of the State government through the office of the State’s Building Control Agency to swing into action against the illegal conversion, prosecute the tenant and subsequently revert her property to the residential premises as it was originally approved by the state government.

She however maintained that it is compelling on the state government to come to her rescue in making a swift action because her tenant didn’t seek the consent of the landlord or secure an approval notice, which should have been sought by only the landlord.

As at press time, the landlord eagerly awaits the action of the agency in sealing up the property and ensure the property is reverted to the residential home it was originally approved for.