Government seals ‘The Dome” over safety violations
By Ojo Taiwo
The Lagos state government is said to have allegedly approved the sealing of the popular Lekki phase 1 church namely ‘the Dome’, headed by Dr. Tony Rapu for violating building regulations.
Anifowoshe Abiola, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development in a statement, said the government would not fold its arms and watch a brazen contravention of the law that could endanger lives and property of residents.
He explained that the said church has no Planning Permit to embark on such a massive construction without due process. He added that the structure is against the Lagos State Regional and Urban Planning Law 2010.
Anifowoshe further explain in his statement that “While government appreciates citizens’ rights to freedom of worship, the law stipulates a minimum of 15meter setback from the high tension wire to the property line. This church neglected and has refused to comply with the Statutory Notice served, as such the State Government must protect its citizens in order to mitigate against avoidable disasters.”
However, he stated that the church had no planning permit that the church fence (still under construction) was standing in the Right of Way of Freedom Road and also directly under the high-tension wires.
He urges Lagosians to please show understanding and cooperate for the benefit of every resident as the government has given a 30-day ultimatum to owners and developers of buildings without planning permit to comply with the state planning laws to avoid sanction.
