The Lagos State Government has issued a March 31, 2026 deadline for building owners, developers and facility managers to register and certify all elevators and vertical transportation equipment (VTE) operating across the state.
The directive was announced on Friday by the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Safety Commission, Lanre Mojola, who warned that uncertified elevators would be decommissioned after the deadline.
Mojola said the move is aimed at preventing avoidable accidents as Lagos continues to witness rapid growth in high-rise residential and commercial buildings.
According to him, the state will no longer tolerate the operation of elevators that are not properly registered and safety-certified.
He added that building owners have been given a grace period to comply with the directive, noting that enforcement actions would begin immediately after the March 31 deadline.
“The operation of uncertified lifts poses a serious risk to public safety. As the Lagos skyline continues to expand, strict adherence to elevator safety regulations is essential to protect lives,” Mojola said.
He explained that under the commission’s safety guidelines, all elevators in residential, commercial and public buildings must be registered and certified before use and must undergo periodic inspections throughout their operational lifespan.
To facilitate compliance, the state government has introduced an online registration platform where building owners can digitally register their vertical transportation equipment.
Mojola also warned that any elevator found to be unregistered or without a valid safety certificate after the deadline would be shut down and the affected premises sealed during enforcement operations.
He urged members of the public to support the safety initiative by reporting faulty elevators, skipped maintenance schedules or unregistered lifts to the commission’s safety hotlines.
The commission said the move is part of broader efforts by the state government to strengthen safety standards and ensure that building owners do not compromise public safety in pursuit of cost savings.