The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to global best practices in urban planning and physical development as part of efforts to promote sustainable growth and improve residents’ quality of life.

The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Oluyinka Olumide, disclosed this during a ministerial press briefing held to mark the seventh year of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration.

Strategic Urban Planning Reforms

Olumide said the ministry has strengthened strategic planning collaborations and knowledge-sharing initiatives designed to improve long-term urban development across Lagos State.

According to him, the reforms are expected to enhance infrastructure coordination, improve urban mobility, reduce environmental degradation, and support broader socio-economic development.

He noted that the government is aligning all physical development activities with approved planning standards and international urban management practices.

Improved Dispute Resolution and Enforcement

To improve compliance and public trust, the ministry intensified mediation and conflict resolution mechanisms for development-related disputes.

Olumide disclosed that the ministry received 987 petitions during the review period. Out of these:

• 399 cases were resolved through mediation
• 17 enforcement actions were carried out
• 52 properties were sealed
• 519 cases remain under investigation

He stated that the 47.76 per cent resolution rate has helped reduce litigation, improve enforcement efficiency, and strengthen public confidence in the system.

Technology-Driven Planning and Infrastructure Support

The commissioner said the ministry is increasingly adopting data-driven planning systems and digital tools to improve decision-making, land-use management, and spatial coordination.

He added that the government has also facilitated Right of Way approvals for key infrastructure projects, including road expansion and urban regeneration programmes.

Olumide stressed that enforcement activities have helped reduce unregulated estate development and promote safer and more organised communities across the state.

Urban Renewal and Corridor Development

As part of ongoing urban renewal efforts, the Lagos State Informal Space Management Authority developed action plans for key corridors and informal spaces, including:

• AIT Powerline High Tension Corridor
• New Ojota–Opebi Link Bridge area
• Agric–Isawo corridor
• Itamaga–Elepe–Maya corridor
• Ogolonto–Ipakodo corridor

The interventions included mapping, stakeholder engagement, enforcement notices, and action area planning to prevent encroachment and restore order.

Appeals Committee Reconstituted

Olumide also announced the reconstitution of the 14-member Lagos State Physical Planning and Building Control Appeals Committee.

The committee will handle disputes, oversee regulatory issues, and investigate professional misconduct within the planning and building control system.

Regional Planning and Future Projects

He further disclosed that Lagos State has been assigned to lead the development of a master plan for the South-West region, alongside plans for an integrated rail transit system across the region.

The commissioner reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building a smart, sustainable, and well-organised city through continued reforms and inter-agency collaboration.

According to him, Lagos remains focused on balancing infrastructure development with environmental sustainability and economic growth to improve residents’ quality of life.

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The Lagos State Government has assured that property owners whose buildings are demolished during road construction will be adequately compensated but only if they obtained valid planning permits.

The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, gave the assurance during a public sensitisation programme organised by the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) to educate stakeholders on the importance of obtaining planning permits.

Olumide explained that many buildings currently sited on the right of way would have to give way for upcoming road projects, stressing that such losses could be avoided through proper compliance.

“If any building sited on the right of way had obtained a planning permit, the owners would be adequately compensated,” he said.

No Arbitrary Demolitions

The commissioner also urged residents, Community Development Associations (CDAs), and Community Development Committees (CDCs) in Ojo, Badagry, Iba/Oto-Awori, Amuwo, Oriade, and Olorunda districts to regularise their property documentation. He reassured that there would be no arbitrary demolitions at the Trade Fair Complex and emphasised government’s commitment to orderly and sustainable urban development.

LASPPPA Encourages Public Engagement

The General Manager of LASPPPA, Kehinde Osinailke, reaffirmed the agency’s openness to the public and encouraged developers and professionals to seek guidance directly from LASPPPA.

“Our office doors are open to everyone. We are here to enlighten, support, and work with you to ensure compliance and promote a well-organised Lagos,” he said.

A Director in LASPPPA, Claudius Akinyemi, highlighted that planning permits can now be processed online for faster approvals. She noted that a valid permit not only legalises development but can serve as collateral for bank loans, and guarantees compensation if government projects affect the property.

Stakeholders React

During the interactive session, the President-General of Alaba International Amalgamated Council, High Chief (Dr.) Camilus Amajuoyi, pledged that traders and developers at the Alaba Trade Fair would now comply with planning regulations. Another stakeholder, High Chief Taofeek Oseni, called for a review of long-standing buildings constructed on government-acquired land without proper documentation.

Background

In September, the Lagos State Government began demolishing illegal and defective structures at the Trade Fair Complex in Ojo. The operation targeted buildings erected without approval, on drainage channels, or within road setbacks. Agencies involved included LASBCA, LASURA, LASPPPA, and the Ministry of Physical Planning, among others.

The state has maintained that demolitions carried out without official authorisation or due process do not represent its position, referencing recent unapproved demolitions in FESTAC Town.

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The Lagos State Government has distanced itself from the recent demolition of buildings in FESTAC Town, clarifying that it had no involvement in the exercise and did not issue any authorisation for the operation.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, October 14, by Mukaila Sanusi, Director of Public Affairs at the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, the government said the clarification became necessary following public speculation linking it to the demolitions.

Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, speaking from Alausa, said the state operates a transparent process for any authorised demolition, which includes the issuance of statutory notices and stakeholder engagement before any structure is removed.

“The Lagos State Government has denied any involvement in the recent demolition of structures in FESTAC Town,” the statement read. “Contrary to speculation, the State Government had no role in the exercise.”

Olumide emphasised that the state was not responsible for the operation, noting that FESTAC Town falls under the administration of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA). He urged federal agencies operating within Lagos to seek clearance from the ministry before undertaking any demolition to avoid conflict and misinformation.

While clarifying its position on the FESTAC exercise, the state government confirmed that it had recently carried out demolitions at the Lagos Trade Fair Complex, targeting unapproved and unsafe structures deemed to pose public safety risks.

According to the ministry, the affected buildings lacked valid planning permits, despite several amnesty opportunities given to owners to regularise their developments. It dismissed as misleading claims by Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi that affected traders had obtained necessary approvals.

The statement further clarified that the Trade Fair Complex Management Board has no authority to issue building approvals, citing a 2003 Supreme Court ruling affirming Lagos State’s jurisdiction over physical planning and development control even on federal lands except in core federal enclaves.

In a related development, the government announced plans to begin the removal of properties built on illegal reclamation sites across Lagos from October 15, warning that such structures obstruct natural waterways and contribute to flooding.

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