Housing
2012 Will Be a Year of Destruction in Lagos
Government targets poorly constructed buildings amid a string of collapses
Buildings are crumbling in Lagos, Nigeria. A warehouse caved in on workers Nov. 28. A two-story building undergoing renovation collapsed on Dec. 12. And just three days later, seven workers constructing a new government office were trapped when the structure gave way. And there have been many others. It’s a widespread problem in the city stressed by rapid population growth.
In the face of this recent wave of accidents, the Lagos State government is planning a proactive assault on the city’s most dangerous buildings by launching a year-long demolition effort. Officials are targeting hundreds of buildings for demolition, focusing on those already identified as being distressed, Business Day reports.