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LAGOS, Nigeria - The Lagos State Government has announced that it granted 8,856 planning permits over an eight-month period to owners of existing buildings lacking legal documentation.
These permits were issued between May and December 2024 as part of efforts to address the issue of building collapses in the state.
The Commissioner for Physical and Urban Planning Development, Oluyinka Olumide, made this announcement during a press briefing at the state’s secretariat in Alausa, Ikeja.
Olumide clarified that the approvals were given to property owners and developers in phases during an amnesty period established by the government to support property owners in Lagos.
He noted that 2,151 applications were approved from a total of 4,877 submitted during the first phase, which took place from May to July 2024.
The second phase, running from August to October, had 6,402 applicants, of which 3,570 were approved. In the third phase, covering November and December, 3,135 out of 7,210 applications were granted approval.
Olumide additionally revealed that over the last six years, the state government received 57,347 applications, with 37,266 properties certified.
The head of the Ministry indicated that the Lagos State Environmental Monitoring Agency (LASEMA) has initiated various efforts, including the establishment of additional district offices and human capacity development programs to improve the processing of planning permits.
He urged residents to adhere to the state's building regulations as part of a commitment to maintaining a safe, organized, and livable environment.
