LAGOS, Nigeria – Lagos State government has said it widened its planning permit net in the last six years with the approval of 37, 266 buildings.
Some of the approved structures include residential, commercial, mixed-use, and institutional, among others.
The state however warned residents against buying lands in areas reserved for agricultural purposes.
According to the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Oluyinka Olumide, while speaking on Wednesday, at the ongoing 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing of the Office of Physical Planning in Alausa, Ikeja, the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority, LASPPPA, in 2024 alone, granted approvals for 95 hospitals, 27 petrol stations, 151 shopping malls, and 95 schools, among others.
He said between May and December, 2024, a total of 8, 856 approvals were recorded during the amnesty period for property owners to regularise their papers.
“The amnesty window was divided into three phases, yielding impressive results: For the first phase (May-July 2024), LASPPPPA granted 2,151 approvals; the second phase, (August-October 2024) witnessed a total of 6,402 applications out of which 3,570 approvals were granted; and the third phase (November-December 2024) recorded 7,210 applications and 3,135 approvals, bringing the total amnesty period achievements to 18,489 applications and 8,856 approvals respectively, ” he said.
While answering questions on reasons for delays in approval, the commissioner said some property owners bought and built structures on lands reserved by the government for farming, while some could not produce their tax clearances, which is one of the requirements for approving structures.
He noted that many housing estates in areas such as Ibeju-Lekki, Epe and Ikorodu, are built on lands reserved for farming by the government but expressed worries that such lands are being sold to unsuspecting buyers by estate developers and some native land owners.
Oluyinka said that many of the lands have already been acquired by the government from landowners, who are now reselling them to residents. He urged Lagosians to always make enquiries from the Ministry of Physical Planning before purchasing lands.
“Most of the lands in Ibeju-Lekki,Epe and Ikorodu are for agricultural purposes but are being sold by landowners (omo onile) to unsuspecting buyers. That is why we tell people to check from physical planning to know the use of any land they want to buy. Most of the lands have been bought by the government for farming but the estate developers are deceiving people to buy such lands,” he said.
He further said in 2024 and 2025 alone, 95 petitions were received by the ministry mostly from aggrieved members of the public against government agencies, individuals, and public officials.
“Out of the 95 petitions, 35 were concluded with decisions delivered, while 32 were struck out due to petitioners’ failure to respond or withdrawal in favour of legal action. The remaining 28 petitions are at various stages of deliberation,” he said.
He further said in order to strengthen manpower and professional capacity, the government appointed 173 new town planning officers, facilitated staff participation in professional conferences, and launched the Outstanding Officers’ Award to promote dedication and excellence in service.
“These efforts reflect the Sanwo-Olu administration’s commitment to a responsive, innovative, and people-centered physical planning sector,” he noted.
