The Lagos State Government has expressed deep concern over the alarming statistic that approximately 75 per cent of buildings in the state lack the necessary construction approvals.
The PUNCH reported that at a news conference held in Ikeja on Wednesday, the state Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, pledged that decisive measures would be implemented to address this issue.
Olumide emphasized the importance of compliance with existing regulations, noting that the current building approval rate in Lagos stands at less than 25 percent.
This figure is notably lower than the national average, which ranges from 18 to 28 percent, with a peak at 32 percent.
“Our current building approval rate in Lagos is under 25 per cent, which is significantly lower than the national average of 18 to 28 per cent, with the highest being 32 per cent,” he stated.
He likened the necessity of securing building approvals to the fundamental need for every person to have a name.
The Commissioner also highlighted the government’s commitment to addressing the challenges posed by unapproved constructions, announcing the imminent Physical Planning Summit scheduled for October 15 and 16 in Lagos.
The summit aims to gather key stakeholders from both the public and private sectors to engage in discussions about strategies for improving the state’s urban development.
With the theme ‘Thinking Lagos: A New Vision for a Regional and Integrated Megacity’, the summit seeks to confront the pressing issues related to physical planning that Lagos faces.
During his address, Olumide pointed out that certain structures are currently marked for demolition due to non-compliance with regulations.
These include buildings constructed without approval, those situated under high-tension power lines, and properties built along drainage paths or gas lines. “We are committed to addressing these challenges head-on,” he asserted.
The government has previously taken steps to enforce planning laws, including ordering the removal of buildings on road setbacks and sealing over 60 structures that violated planning regulations.
In addition, the Lagos State Building Control Agency is set to relaunch the certificate of fitness for buildings, aiming to enhance compliance across the state.
Olumide underscored the urgency of rethinking urban planning strategies as Lagos continues its rapid growth as a megacity.
“With the state’s land area fixed at 3,577 square kilometers—75 per cent of which is water—and the rapid population growth presenting significant stress on land and infrastructure, we must devise effective plans to manage our available land resources,” he explained.
He also emphasized the need for a shift in planning strategies, advocating for a higher-order approach rather than a bottom-up strategy.
“The summit will shift our approach from a bottom-up to a higher-order strategy,” he said. He highlighted the importance of community engagement in the planning process, referencing the Badagry master plan. “We need to consult with local communities, particularly fishermen, to understand their challenges and determine how we can support them through adequate facilities,” he stated.
Olumide concluded by stressing that the plans developed should reflect a shared responsibility between the government and the community, with a timeline spanning 10 to 20 years to address these pressing urban development issues.
“The plans we develop should be a shared responsibility between the government and the community,” he mentioned, underscoring the collaborative effort needed to reshape Lagos’s urban landscape for the future.
