The Lagos State Government has dismissed claims of ethnic bias in the recent demolition at the Trade Fair Complex in Ojo, describing the operation as a technical enforcement of planning laws.

Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Olumide Oluyinka, made the clarification saying the action was part of a wider regulatory effort across the state.

“This has nothing to do with ethnicity,” Oluyinka said. “We’ve carried out similar operations in areas like Owode Onirin, Idumota, and Ikeja. It’s purely about compliance with urban planning laws.”

He criticized the Trade Fair Complex management for leasing land to private developers without proper approval. Some of the buildings, he noted, were dangerously close to public roads and lacked professional design oversight.

Oluyinka said affected occupants were given ample notice, including visits as far back as March 2024. He also alleged that government officers attempting to serve notices were detained and harassed.

“It’s false to claim there was no warning,” he added. “We engaged the management multiple times and were even met with resistance.”

Describing the complex’s current state as unacceptable, the commissioner said the intervention was necessary. “Refuse, drainage, sewage everything is in disrepair. We’re acting in the public interest.”

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enforcing planning laws fairly across all communities, regardless of ethnicity.

Source: Channels Tv

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The Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development is intensifying public engagement as it pushes to double the number of planning permits issued annually—from 18,000 in 2024 to 40,000 or more.

Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Olumide Oluyinka, disclosed this at a press briefing in Alausa ahead of a stakeholder engagement themed “Planning Permit: A Rebirth”, which begins September 26.

“Our assessment shows that Lagos should be issuing between 40,000 and 45,000 planning permits annually,” Oluyinka said. “We are far below this mark, which is why we are going back to the grassroots to sensitize the public and key stakeholders.”

He likened a planning permit to a birth certificate, saying it gives legal recognition to buildings and enables compensation if government reclaims land for infrastructure.

“Just as every child receives a birth certificate, every building in Lagos must have a planning permit,” he said. “Without it, the structure is not recognized by law.”

The commissioner noted that applicants can now submit directly to 57 district offices without using intermediaries. “Once your drawings and documents are complete, you receive a registration number immediately. All things being equal, you get your approval within 10 working days,” he said.

Oluyinka warned that buildings without permits face penalties and demolition. “You cannot drive a car without a license. In the same way, no building should be erected in Lagos without a planning permit. We will know, and we will act.”

He added that applicants must present valid land titles and up-to-date tax clearance, noting that many people applying are not tax-compliant. “Under the new reforms, you must show evidence of tax payment before your application is processed,” he said.

Oluyinka urged residents to see the permit process as an investment, not a burden. “If you present a property document without a planning permit to a bank or embassy, it is invalid. The permit protects you, your family, and your investment,” he said.

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