Real estate developers in Lagos have criticised the state government’s plan to shut down 176 housing estates said to have breached planning regulations, warning that the move could unsettle investors and damage confidence in the property market.

The Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN) expressed its concerns following a statement from the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, which announced that the affected estates had 21 days to regularise their layout approvals or face closure.

REDAN President, Akintoye Adeoye, said branding the estates as “illegal” could send the wrong signal to both local and foreign investors. “It sends shock waves to the investing community, especially those in the diaspora. Government officials should choose their words carefully when communicating with the public,” he said.

Adeoye noted that excessive bureaucracy and high approval fees had long been a challenge for developers, calling for reforms to build trust between regulators and industry stakeholders. “There are confidence issues that must be addressed. The government must embrace greater transparency in its dealings with developers,” he added.

The state government had last week listed the estates, located mainly in Eti-Osa, Ajah, Ibeju-Lekki and Epe, as having no approved layouts from the Ministry. Some of the named projects include Adron Homes in Elerangbe, Aina Gold Estate in Okun-Folu, Diamond Estate in Eputu, Prime Water View Garden in Ikate Elegushi and Royal View Estate in Ikota.

When asked how the estates were developed without necessary approvals, the Ministry’s Director of Public Affairs, Mukaila Sanusi, said it reflected a wider disregard for regulations. “That some of them have already been built does not make it right. Government must act in the interest of creating a livable, organised and sustainable environment,” he stated.

Sanusi urged prospective homebuyers to verify layout and planning permits with the Ministry before making payments. The Permanent Secretary, Office of Physical Planning, Engr. Oluwole Sotire, stressed that the enforcement drive was part of routine regulatory work in line with the state’s T.H.E.M.E.S+ Agenda for sustainable urban development.

He also reminded developers to register with the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (LASRERA), which oversees the activities of real estate practitioners to ensure order in the sector.

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Speaking during the 55th annual gathering of the Nigerian Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) in Abuja, the group’s president, Victor Alonge, emphasized the urgent need to revisit the Land Use Act—originally enacted in 1978. According to him, the decades-old legislation has become a barrier to equitable land access and real estate progress.

“Land acquisition remains a steep challenge for ordinary Nigerians,” Alonge remarked. “We need a modern, inclusive system that doesn’t cater primarily to high-end developers.”

Beyond land reform, Alonge pointed to persistent inefficiencies in the country’s housing strategies. He called for a revamp of the National Housing Policy, criticizing its lack of coherence and inadequate stakeholder involvement.

He argued that the existing policy often blurs the lines between affordable and social housing, resulting in initiatives that fail to serve low-income populations. “We routinely label homes as affordable, yet they’re priced far beyond the reach of everyday workers,” he said.

Highlighting global practices, Alonge cited examples where essential service providers such as nurses and teachers are given access to centrally located housing, allowing them to live within the communities they serve. He stressed that Nigeria needs a comparable approach to social housing that goes beyond mere rhetoric.

Alonge also proposed fiscal deterrents to combat property hoarding, suggesting that idle real estate should be subject to higher taxation. “When owners face steep levies on unused homes, they’re more likely to make those properties available,” he noted, drawing on policies implemented in more developed housing markets.

The NIESV leader concluded by urging policymakers to involve industry experts in shaping future regulations, warning that without strategic and inclusive planning, the housing deficit in Nigeria could deepen.

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