Lagos Seals Lekki, Ikeja Properties Over Elevator Safety Violations

Lagos State has sealed over 12 properties in Lekki and Ikeja for failing to comply with elevator safety rules.

The Lagos State Government has sealed multiple commercial and residential properties across Lekki and Ikeja for failing to comply with mandatory elevator safety regulations, in a sweeping enforcement action aimed at strengthening public safety in the state’s rapidly growing high-rise environment.

The enforcement exercise, disclosed in a statement on the official X account of the Lagos State Government on Monday, affected more than 12 facilities, including shopping malls, hotels, and residential buildings in Lekki Phase I and parts of Ikeja.

“The Lagos State Government has sealed several buildings, shopping malls and hotels for failing to comply with mandatory lift and elevator safety regulations,” the statement said.

It added that “the enforcement operations, carried out by the Lagos State Safety Commission on Thursday, affected more than 12 facilities across key locations, including Admiralty Way in Lekki Phase I and parts of Ikeja.”

Among the sealed properties were The Heritage/AXA on Awolowo Road in Ikeja, Mosesola House, Debour House, Bosch House, Bridge View, Elizabeth Court, 10Bou Towers, Brion Court, Footprints Apartments, Lekki Luxury Flats, and Brasas Mall on Admiralty Way in Lekki.

According to the state government, the affected properties were shut down after owners and facility managers repeatedly failed to register their elevators for inspection, maintenance oversight, and safety certification, despite several warnings.

The enforcement follows an earlier directive issued by the state government requiring all building owners, developers, and facility managers to register and obtain safety certification for elevators by March 31, 2026, as part of efforts to reduce accidents and improve compliance in Lagos’ expanding vertical infrastructure.

Chief Scientific Officer Sovi Tijani, who represented the Director-General of the Lagos State Safety Commission, Lanre Mojola, during the exercise, said the crackdown was necessary due to continued disregard for safety directives.

Tijani stressed that elevator registration is essential for routine inspections and the protection of lives and property, warning that uncertified or poorly maintained systems pose serious risks.

He said enforcement would continue until full compliance is achieved across the state, urging property owners and managers to act quickly to avoid further sanctions.

The government maintained that strict adherence to elevator safety standards remains critical to safeguarding residents, workers, and visitors in Lagos.

The policy push comes after a directive issued in mid-March 2026 mandating certification of all elevators, following rising concerns over safety incidents in the state’s high-rise buildings.

The directive was partly prompted by a March 2026 incident in Banana Island, where residents were trapped in an elevator for over an hour before being rescued by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), an episode that sparked public concern after being shared widely on social media.

Authorities have repeatedly warned that unregistered or uncertified elevators would face shutdowns and possible sealing of affected properties.

Lagos’ expanding skyline has significantly increased dependence on elevators across residential estates, office towers, hospitals, and shopping complexes, intensifying the need for stricter regulatory oversight.

In August 2023, Dr. Vwaere Diaso died after an elevator at General Hospital, Odan, Lagos Island, reportedly crashed from the 10th floor, an incident that drew widespread outrage and renewed calls for stronger safety enforcement.

Reports had indicated that the elevator had experienced repeated malfunctions before the fatal crash.