The Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK) has declared its determination to enforce the law against recalcitrant corporate organisations and property owners that have refused to comply with the state’s provision on beautification of setbacks.
This assertion was contained in a statement issued by Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola, general manager of the Agency, stating that it has become imperative to ensure total compliance with the State’s Greening Law in order to appreciate the value of the environment.
“According to Section 19 of the Law establishing LASPARK, all tenement owners and occupiers shall landscape and beautify the perimeter areas of their properties, the neglect, failure and refusal of which shall warrant the penalty of Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N250,000.00) or such sums as the State shall incur in doing same on behalf of the tenement, or six (6) months imprisonment or other noncustodial sentence,” Adebiyi-Abiola emphasised.
She said the Agency’s resolve was to curtail the pronounced negligence of the greening requirement by private establishments and other property owners across the state, which according to her is frustrating government’s efforts to ward off the negative effects of climate change in the state.
She said commercial property owner with setbacks would be vigorously compelled to do the needful and the Agency would be locking up premises for non-compliance.
She also enjoined owners of petrol stations to adhere strictly to the approval gotten from the Ministry of Physical Planning, which stipulates that 20 percent of their properties be reserved for greening.
“We have noted with dismay the attitude of owners of Petrol Stations especially the new entrants who have made it a habit of concretising their entire while neglecting the provision of the law which specifically states that a certain percentage of their space must be reserved for greening,” she said.
LASPARK is more determined than ever to prosecute owners of these Petrol Stations and other commercial properties according to the Law unless they show a desire to abide by the state’s provision while also charging owners of residential apartments to comply with this directive, she said, stressing the Agency will soon begin a massive enforcement action against non-compliance in residential buildings.
While acknowledging that over time, the Agency had been lenient with defaulters to allow for voluntary compliance, she insisted that the Parks and Gardens Law was enacted not to hunt any institution or individual but to make the environment more beautiful and healthy for the citizenry, as the state has done much on public education, enlightenment and advocacy to ensure that business enterprises and Lagosians appreciate the provision of this Law.
She advised interested companies to contact the Agency for necessary design arrangement in beautifying their setbacks and other necessary areas, submitting that nothing would be left undone to salvage the environment and make Lagos a greener and healthier state to live in
