The Lagos State Government has officially restricted working hours on all building construction sites across the state to between 7am and 6pm, Mondays to Saturdays, as part of efforts to improve safety, environmental health, and social wellbeing in the city.
This announcement was made by the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, during a press briefing held in Lagos on Thursday. Dr. Olumide emphasised that the new directive must be followed strictly by everyone involved in building construction activities across Lagos.
He stated that the government had made the decision in the interest of protecting residents and workers, preventing cases of building collapse, and ensuring peace in residential areas. “The restriction order must be strictly adhered to by all those involved in building construction in the state, as relevant government agencies will enforce compliance,” Olumide warned.
However, he noted that in special cases, developers or contractors who may need to work outside the approved hours must first submit a formal application. “Concession to work outside these hours could be granted, subject to a formal application that would be treated on its merits,” he said.
The commissioner also appealed to Lagos residents to support the initiative by reporting any site found to be violating the working hour restrictions. Reports can be made to the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) and other relevant agencies.
The new directive comes as part of a broader effort to address the issue of building collapses in the state. In 2024, a tragic incident occurred at Arowojobe Estate, Maryland, where a two-storey building under construction collapsed, killing five workers. The accident exposed lapses in building safety supervision and raised fresh concerns over the welfare of construction workers.
Following that incident, the General Manager of LASBCA, Gbolahan Oki, had earlier issued a ban on construction workers sleeping at building sites. In a statement signed by Olaoye Olusegun, Director of Public Affairs at the agency, Oki said that officials would begin random inspections—especially at night—to enforce the rule.
“Nobody should be found sleeping in any building under construction after the close of work, especially at night,” the statement warned. “Any property developer or owner who allows work to go on beyond the approved time or during Sundays will have their property sealed indefinitely.”
The state government clarified that Sundays are not permitted for construction activities at all. The official working period remains 7am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday, and this will now be actively enforced.
The restriction, government officials say, is also meant to reduce environmental noise, promote rest and mental health for residents, and reduce the risk of overnight accidents on unsafe sites. Developers, site engineers, labourers, and contractors are all expected to comply or face sanctions, including indefinite site shutdown.
The move reflects the government’s renewed commitment to strengthening urban regulations, ensuring that all buildings under construction meet proper standards, and holding developers accountable for their activities. The government also noted that stricter compliance would help reduce the high rate of building collapse, which has claimed dozens of lives in Lagos over the years.
