The Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG) has warned that demolishing historic buildings would amount to destroying the stories, traditions and collective memories that define Lagos’ cultural identity.
The guild called on the Lagos State government to strengthen efforts to preserve the state’s historic structures, as neglect and uncontrolled urban development could erase important links to the city’s past.
President of BCPG, Alhaji Yusuf Sulaiman, and other built-environment professionals made the assertion at a seminar organised by the guild’s Lagos Island branch to mark the 90th birthday of Prince Tajudeen Oluyole Olusi, head of the Olusi Royal House of Lagos, at the Olusi Palace, Oke Arin, Lagos Island.
A lecturer at the University of Lagos’ Institute of African and Diaspora Studies, Dr Abisoye Eleshin, said the destruction of historic buildings went beyond the loss of physical structures, as it also wiped out the stories, traditions and collective memories associated with them.
She urged planners and construction professionals to pay greater attention to traditional palaces, religious buildings, and other structures that reflect the history of Lagos communities, rather than concentrating solely on prominent architectural landmarks.
Stakeholders at the seminar identified the Olusi Palace as one of the historic properties requiring urgent preservation, citing its cultural, educational and tourism value.
Sulaiman said the palace was among 23 heritage buildings identified on Lagos Island, while previous government planning documents had recognised the need to protect historically significant sites across the state.
He cited the Lagos State Metropolitan Master Plan of 1980 and the state’s 2009 strategic plan, which identified 43 heritage sites across Lagos, but lamented that many had not received adequate attention.
He urged the government to translate heritage recognition into concrete conservation measures, noting that preserving the palace could attract visitors interested in Lagos’ history and cultural traditions.
The pioneer president of BCPG, Builder Kunle Awobodu, said the palace also demonstrated the construction expertise of earlier generations of Nigerian builders.
He explained that retaining such structures would provide students of architecture, engineering and other built-environment professions with opportunities to study traditional building techniques and understand the evolution of construction practices.
Professor Olumide Adenuga advocated systematic documentation, regular structural assessments, appropriate repairs and sustainable funding to ensure the survival of historic buildings.
He added that suitable heritage properties could be adapted into museums, cultural centres and other public facilities without destroying their historical character.
Responding to the concerns, the Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Olumide Olayinka Abiodun, outlined possible approaches to heritage protection, including government acquisition and management, preservation restrictions with possible support, and conservation arrangements that allow families to retain ownership.
Prince Olusi, recalling the former splendour of the palace compound, said it once featured extensive gardens with apple, palm and coconut trees, alongside hibiscus and roses.
He lamented the deterioration of the property and appealed to the government to revisit earlier preservation plans.