The Ogun State Government has declared that DATKEM Plaza in Ijebu Ode, owned by the wife of former governor Gbenga Daniel, is an illegal structure lacking approved plans and in violation of the state’s physical planning laws. The government, in a statement from the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, noted multiple defects in the building and revealed that efforts to halt further development were disregarded by the developers.
The statement highlighted the importance of structural integrity, particularly in light of past building disasters across the country, including fire outbreaks in Ikorodu that resulted in the loss of lives. The government emphasized its commitment to the safety of citizens and asserted that it would not tolerate such occurrences.
The Permanent Secretary challenged the owners to provide evidence of government approval for the structure. He also pointed out the requirement for adequate parking space and adherence to the law’s provision of 45 to 50 percent of land for construction as a buildable area for a commercial building of that stature.
Additionally, the building lacked stage certification, issued at each construction stage. The owners were served with various notices, including abatement, contravention, stop-work, and demolition orders between May and October 2022, which were ignored.
The statement traced the history of the building’s approval application back to 2009 and highlighted deviations from the granted plan, including modifications and enlargement, which led to over-density. Various enforcement actions were taken, including contravention notices, stop-work orders, demolition notices, and sealing notices, all of which were ignored by the developer.
Consequently, the government upheld the recommendation for the demolition of the office building in light of the developer’s continued defiance. The government reaffirmed its dedication to demolishing defective buildings to safeguard the lives of its citizens.
