A seven-day evacuation ultimatum has been issued to traders and residents of a distressed three-storey building at No. 2 Brown Street, off Bolade Bus-Stop, Oshodi, to save lives.

The ultimatum was given by Lagos State Building Control Agency which had cordoned off the building.

According to the agency, the ultimatum became necessary after the scientific and Structural Integrity/Stability Test revealed that the high-rise building is extremely dilapidated.

Its General Manager, Gbolahan Oki, says the owner and occupants of the building had ignored several quit and removal notices served in the past.

He stated that there was a need for “removal of the structure to prevent loss of lives and in line with the government’s drive to achieve zero tolerance to building collapse for the safety of Lagos residents.

Oki explained that the tests were carried out by a team of the agency and its sister agency, the Lagos State Material Testing Laboratory.

The general manager urged the traders/residents to vacate the building for their own good before April fifteen.

He added that this would allow the agency to remove the building before a disaster would occur.

“The government will not fold its arms and watch a distressed structure of that magnitude collapse on her people without taking necessary action,’’’ he said.

While reaffirming government’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property, he called for the collaboration of residents in reporting distressed and non-confirming buildings in their localities to the agency district offices.

He said this would reduce the incidence of building collapse.

His statement was contained in a release by Director, Public Affairs, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem.