Things To Note As Lagos Grants New Building Planning Permits

As the Lagos State Government intensifies efforts to rid the state of illegal and unapproved building construction, a total of 1,726 building planning permits have been granted to property owners and developers.

According to the state’s Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Idris Salako, the building planning permits were granted in October 2020.

Speaking on the need for builders to have their permits and challenges faced, Salako said that sometimes developers delay when they fail to perfect their documents or get the necessary sign-off from relevant Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

MDAs whose clearance may be required include the Lagos Fire Service, the Police, Lands Bureau, Office of the Surveyor-General, Nigerian Railway Corporation, Nigerian Airport Authority, Department of Petroleum Resources, Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Lekki Concession Company, New Towns Development Authority and the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation among others.

He also said that the requirements for building planning permits were not cumbersome but were instead necessary to regulate the built environment and give room to seamless development of the state.

What you should know

The Lagos State Government had earlier disclosed that an e-planning permit platform had been created. This is to ease the process of obtaining a planning permit.

In a bid to improve service delivery, more Town Planners were said to have been deployed to the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) by the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, to ensure the implementation of reforms that will ease the planning permit approval process, as well as aid enforcement of laws and regulations.

One thing that is pertinent to note in all of this, is the government’s efforts to implement and enforce the building laws of the state as it continues to strengthen committees and units in charge of enforcement. This can be seen in the statement rendered by the General Manager, Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA), Funmi Osifuye.

“As part of efforts to ensure Lagos State is developed according to the Approved Physical Development Master Plan, a lot of physical planning reforms and laws were put in place by the government in the building and property development sector. As an agency established to implement these reforms and laws, we are now more prepared than ever to enforce these regulations strictly without fear or favour”.

“We have also strengthened and reorganized our Monitoring and Compliance Unit to ensure statewide coverage enforcement. This will nip uneven and haphazard development in the bud, while at the same time availing the government a quality database to plan ahead for the populace. Also, in pursuance of these objectives, LASPPPA District Officers have been empowered to grant planning permit approval in line with approved standards.’’ He said.

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This enforcement can be seen in the Lagos State Government’s actions. Reports gathered by Propertydome shows that properties located at Lekki, Ikoyi and some other parts of Lagos were recently sealed and tagged unapproved building constructions.

Securing your building planning permits

As a builder or property developer it is imperative you go through the necessary procedures for building in the state so as to avoid issues with the government that would make them end up sealing your property.

Some of the documents required before one can apply for a planning permit include

• Architectural Drawing;
• Title Document duly certified by lands department
• Survey Plan- For Charting to ascertain Zoning/land Use;
• Evidence of payment of company and personal tax;
• Clearance from other MDAs where necessary.
• Comprehensive 250M radius Location Plan.