The Lagos State Government has intensified efforts to promote sustainable urban development by engaging professional consultants to review and prepare strategic development schemes, while simultaneously warning contractors handling key housing projects against delays.

The initiative, spearheaded by the New Towns Development Authority (NTDA), is aimed at ensuring orderly physical development, improving land administration and delivering well-planned communities in line with the state’s long-term master plan.

Speaking during an inception meeting with the consultants, the General Manager of the NTDA, Olakunle Aboyeji, said the authority was mandated to establish new towns, develop government schemes, provide infrastructure within government estates and coordinate large-scale physical development across the state.

He explained that the agency also oversees site selection for government ministries, departments, agencies and private developers, monitors unauthorised developments within government estates, and periodically reviews existing development schemes to reflect changing urban realities.

According to Aboyeji, the consultants will update the layout plan and review the Approval Order for Lekki Peninsula Scheme I, conduct a comprehensive inventory of scheme areas within the Badagry Corridor, prepare a detailed layout for the proposed New Town in Ise-Igbogun, Ode Omi and adjoining communities, as well as commence preliminary work on the proposed Epe Development Scheme Phase II.

He noted that the assignments are expected to facilitate the continuous expansion of government schemes through properly planned site-and-services layouts and private developer projects while ensuring full compliance with the Lagos State Master Plan.

Aboyeji also disclosed that the NTDA is collaborating with the Lands Bureau and the Office of the State Surveyor-General to strengthen coordinated land administration and improve project implementation.

In a related development, the state government has expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of work on some of its ongoing housing projects, warning that contractors who fail to meet agreed timelines risk sanctions.

Commissioner for Housing, Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, issued the warning during an inspection of the Egan-Igando Mixed Housing Scheme, the Joint Venture Housing Scheme in Ipaja and the Lagos State Workers’ Village in Ipaja.

He stressed that the administration would not allow underperforming contractors to undermine its commitment to expanding access to affordable housing for residents.

Also speaking, the Head of the Town Planning Services Department, Olusola Orebiyi, commended the consultants for their prompt mobilisation and urged them to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, quality and regulatory compliance in executing the assignments within the stipulated timelines.

He assured them of the NTDA’s full cooperation and institutional support throughout the implementation of the projects.

The post Lagos Moves to Strengthen Urban Planning, Warns Contractors Over Delayed Housing Projects appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

Lagos is entering a new phase of real estate regulation with the introduction of compulsory insurance for commercial buildings above two floors and the expansion of its digital land administration system (E-GIS). The reforms aim to reduce building risks, eliminate land fraud, speed up development permits, and attract long-term investment into Africa’s fastest-growing urban market.

Why the New Building Insurance Policy Matters

Under the new rule, commercial property owners must secure insurance coverage before buildings are approved for occupation.
This move is designed to:

• Reduce structural failure risks

• Protect occupants and investors

• Prevent avoidable building collapse losses

• Promote international-standard compliance

Experts say this policy strengthens safety enforcement across Lagos’ built environment.

Digital Land Reform to Transform Property Transactions

Lagos has finalised a digital mapping exercise to power the new E-GIS platform. The system will enable:

• Instant land title verification

• Real-time ownership checks

• Digital certificate issuance

• Faster building permit approval (10 minutes for compliant files)

• Online applications and land searches

A pilot phase will begin in Epe, marking Lagos’ shift toward automated approvals and transparent land governance.

Crackdown on Illegal Structures and Forged Titles

Authorities confirm a physical planning audit will soon begin to detect:

• Illegal developments

• Fake land documents

• Unauthorized land occupations

Violators will face penalties as the state tightens planning control to prevent unsafe development patterns.

Urban Renewal Projects Continue Across Lagos

The state is also advancing other major urban development initiatives including:

• Katangua market regeneration

• Relocation of Okobaba sawmillers to Agboyi

• New serviced plots and site-and-service schemes

Lagos plans to harmonize multiple land title categories into a unified land registry to simplify property transactions and improve investor trust.

Analyst Insight: Stronger Market, Lower Risk

Real estate experts say the move to mandatory insurance and digital land management will:

• Increase investor confidence

• Attract institutional capital

• Reduce fraud and land disputes

• Support safe urban expansion

• Position Lagos as a model for digital real-estate governance in Africa

The reforms align with global smart-city and real-estate compliance standards.

The post Lagos Moves to Strengthen Building Safety With Compulsory Insurance Rule appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

Ninety-seven per cent of Nigerian land has no formal title. This makes it difficult to use as collateral for loans. Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, disclosed this yesterday at the launch of Lagos State’s Identifier project.

The Identifier project is a digital property addressing system. It will assign a unique QR-coded identity to every building in Lagos. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu unveiled the pilot phase at the Nigeria Land Titling, Registration and Documentation Programme in Victoria Island. The event was organised by the Lagos State Office of Electronic Geographic Information System (e-GIS) in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.

The pilot phase begins next week in Ikeja. Each property will receive a plate with a QR code and a local government colour code. This will make navigation easier, improve emergency response, and enhance utility delivery.

Sanwo-Olu said the project will improve transparency in land management. “Once you have a property’s digital address, you can access all relevant details about it,” he explained. He added that the system will reduce bureaucracy and improve service delivery.

Special Adviser on e-GIS and Urban Development, Dr Olajide Babatunde, said the project will boost revenue generation, strengthen security, and improve efficiency. He described it as a major step towards modernising Lagos infrastructure and improving residents’ quality of life.

Dangiwa outlined the Federal Government’s plan to increase titled land from three per cent to 50 per cent within ten years. This target is part of the Renewed Hope Agenda. He stressed that states will keep control of land administration while benefiting from reforms that make land a stronger economic asset.

The Identifier project could become a model for other states. As a result, it may reshape Nigeria’s property market and unlock the economic potential of land.

The post Dangiwa Decries Land Titling Gap as Sanwo-Olu Launches ‘Identifier’ Project to Transform Property Mapping appeared first on Housing TV Africa.