The Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority has raised concern over the very low number of buildings in the state with official development approvals, despite the presence of more than five million structures scattered across Lagos. This revelation came during a Ministerial Press Briefing organised by the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development in Lagos.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, made this known while addressing journalists at the event. He described the situation as worrisome and stressed the need for property owners to obtain proper approvals for their buildings to ensure orderly development and a safer built environment.
Dr. Olumide said, “On the number of buildings approved in Lagos State, I will not state the exact number now, but on record, we have over five million buildings, structures, and properties in the state. However, the percentage of those with valid physical planning approval is very low.”
According to him, between 2024 and April 2025, the Office of Physical Planning received 77 applications and granted 35 provisional layout plan approvals and six final layout plan approvals. He added that during the same period, 36 estates were monitored to check whether their developments complied with approved layout plans.
He explained that the regular monitoring of estate developments is part of the government’s efforts to ensure that property developers do not deviate from the approved designs and land-use regulations. The exercise, he noted, has led to an increase in both compliance and the number of applications submitted for layout plan approvals.
On public complaints and technical assistance, Dr. Olumide said that the Office of Physical Planning also plays a key role in resolving land and building-related disputes. Through its Technical Service Department, the office provides support to other Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) on physical planning and development matters.
He disclosed that the department handled numerous petitions submitted by members of the public and whistleblowers on land use violations, building infractions, and physical planning disputes. “Out of the cases received, 70.24 per cent were resolved through mediation. This helped to avoid lengthy court processes and reduced pressure on the legal system,” the Commissioner stated.
For cases that could not be resolved through dialogue or were considered too severe, enforcement actions were carried out. These included serving statutory notices, sealing of non-compliant properties, and demolition of illegal developments. Out of all the enforcement actions taken, 1.98 per cent of cases led to total removal of structures, while 0.4 per cent resulted in property sealing.
Dr. Olumide said this approach reflects the government’s balanced strategy of prioritising peaceful resolution while remaining firm in situations that demand regulatory enforcement. “Our goal is to create a sustainable and well-organised physical environment across the state,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Physical Planning and Building Control Appeals Committee received a total of 95 petitions during the same review period. These petitions were against government agencies, individuals, and public officials. According to the Commissioner, the committee heard all 95 petitions and has already delivered decisions on 35 of them. Another 28 are still ongoing, while 32 petitions were struck out because the petitioners either failed to follow up or decided to return to the courts.
Stakeholders present at the briefing urged Lagos residents to cooperate with the government by applying for necessary building permits before commencing construction. They noted that illegal buildings not only pose safety risks but also threaten the city’s planning goals and infrastructure development.
The Lagos State Government says it will continue to push for a more compliant construction culture while educating the public about the dangers of bypassing planning procedures. Officials also reaffirmed their commitment to making the approval process more accessible and less cumbersome for residents and developers.
