The Lagos State government has given building owners, facility managers, and developers until March 31, 2026, to immediately register and obtain safety certification for their elevators and vertical transportation equipment.

In a statement shared on Facebook on Saturday, the director-general and chief executive officer of the Lagos State Safety Commission, Lanre Mojola, announced on Friday that such premises that fail to comply when the deadline elapses will be sealed.

The statement read, “The Lagos State Government has issued a final “Riot Act” to building owners, facility managers, and developers across the metropolis, demanding the immediate registration and safety certification of all elevators and vertical transportation equipment (VTE).

“In a decisive move to eradicate avoidable accidents in the state’s rapidly expanding high-rise landscape, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Safety Commission, Lanre Mojola, announced on Friday that the state will no longer tolerate the operation of uncertified lifts.

“He said building owners have been given until March 31, 2026, to ensure full compliance or face aggressive enforcement actions, including the immediate shutdown and sealing of non-compliant premises.”

Mr Mojola stated that, to ensure public safety, which remains a non-negotiable priority, rigorous maintenance of elevators is imperative to avoid mechanical failures that could endanger lives.

Noting that the Lagos skyline continues to grow, he stated that “The surge in demand for vertical transportation must be matched by a strict adherence to safety protocols established by the agency. Under these stringent guidelines, all elevators, whether in residential, commercial, or public buildings, must be officially registered and certified both before they are commissioned and throughout their entire operational lifespan.”

He also stated that the state government has introduced a dedicated online platform, “www.lasgsafetyreg.com”, through which all vertical transportation equipment can be registered digitally, in a bid to streamline the process and enhance engagement with stakeholders.

According to him, the approach ensures that while new installations in government and private buildings are inspected before they ever carry a passenger, existing elevators are subjected to periodic safety audits to catch potential hazards before they escalate.”

“The grace period is fast expiring, and any elevator found to be unregistered or lacking a valid safety certificate after the deadline will be decommissioned as part of a state-wide crackdown,” he warned.

Mr Mojola, therefore, urged residents to take an active role in the safety drive by acting as whistleblowers, while encouraging residents and office workers to report faulty equipment, skipped maintenance schedules, or unregistered lifts to the agency’s dedicated safety hotlines at 08033252687 or 08060918759.

“By intensifying stakeholder engagement and public awareness campaigns, the Lagos State Government aims to foster a culture of collective responsibility, ensuring that the “full weight of the law” serves as a deterrent to any property owner who would prioritise costs over the lives of Lagosians.”

The directive by the state government comes days after a viral video on Monday showed some distressed residents of a Banana Island apartment in Ikoyi sweating profusely and calling out for help after they got trapped in an elevator for over 40 minutes, facing the risk of suffocation.