The Lagos State Ministry of Environment has placed a “seal order” notice on a property at Engineer Bodunrin Adebimpe Close, off Lanre Awolokun Street, Gbagada Phase II, Lagos, for alleged violation of environmental laws.

Our correspondent, who was in the area on Saturday, saw the seal of the ministry on the two entrances of the property which is still under construction.

The notice read that the owner of the property had contravened some sections of the state environmental laws, stating, “You’re to abate the nuisance and pay stipulated fines” into the state government account before reopening.

PUNCH Metro gathered that residents of the area had in a letter dated October 9, 2023, petitioned the Lagos State Building Control Agency, alleging that a proposed 10-storey hotel building was being constructed within the residential vicinity and would be of inconvenience to the residents.

The letter was signed by the residents, Bodunrin Adebimpe, Tony Aruede, Kenneth Odusanya, Basorun and a representative of a Celestial Church of Christ in the area, Ajayi Omonehin.

They claimed that the construction on the road outside the land space of the developer’s property had disfigured the close and was creating difficulties for vehicular movement.

They also alleged that the ongoing construction is posing a security risk because the mini gate at the close’s end of the site office is normally opened at the same time as the gate at the expressway, thereby making the close accessible from the expressway to hoodlums.

“It is our considered opinion that a 10-storey building is a project that must be handled with caution and the highest level of professionalism with proper consideration for the wellness and interest of the neighbours particularly in a residential community,” they concluded.

Speaking with PUNCH Metro, the property’s developer, Wakeel Olohunfemi, said the matter was being handled by the state Ministry of Environment.

“The case is at the state Ministry of Environment,” Wakeel simply said.

The spokesperson for the ministry, Kunle Adeshina, urged the residents to be patient with the government.

Adeshina said, “There are different enforcement units in the ministry. If the ministry has come to seal it, maybe the complaints they (the residents) made were official, and that’s why they’ve gone there. There are procedures. It’s not that they would go there today and demolish.

“If the building is on infractions, every due process must be explored before punitive action can be taken. So, they should just exercise patience. The processes are meant to be exhausted.”

Another notice by LASBCA was seen on the gate of the building with the caption “Under Inspection.”

A source in LASBCA however said the proposed building got approval from the physical planning agency of the state government.

“The proposed building has approval, but the complaints will be promptly investigated,” the official who asked not to be named said. (The PUNCH: Text, Excluding Headline)