Amidst growing criticism faced by the Lagos government over the recent demolition of buildings and shanties across the state, Oluyinka Olumide, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development in Lagos, has disclosed a startling revelation.
In an interview with journalists, Olumide revealed that an overwhelming 80 percent of buildings in the Ibeju Lekki-Epe corridor lack government approval.
Olumide shed light on the challenges encountered in securing government approval for property development, citing the persistence of developers and property owners in circumventing due process. He explained the rigorous procedures involved in obtaining approval and stressed the importance of adhering to zoning regulations.
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“The procedure to get approval is first to get the planning information, as to what those areas have been zoned for. In this case, what we have is agricultural land, and people now go to their families to buy agricultural land. Of course, those lands would be sold because those families do not know the use such land would be put to,” Olumide explained.
He outlined the multi-layered process involved in obtaining approval, including obtaining planning information, fence permits, and layout permits.
“The procedure to get approval is first to get the planning information, as to what those areas have been zoned for. In this case, what we have is agricultural land, and people now go to their families to buy agricultural land. Of course, those lands would be sold because those families do not know the use such land would be put to,” he said.
“The next thing to do is the fence permit. If you missed the earlier information on not knowing the area zoning, at the point of getting the fence permit, you would be able to detect what the area is zoned for. After that, the layout permits a large expanse of land. So, you can see all these layers.
“But people still go ahead to start advertising. Some have even gone to the extent of displaying the sizes they want to sell. Imagine someone in the diaspora who wants to send money without any knowledge.
“Then, no approval is eventually gotten. Even if they pass the assignment and the survey to them, we would not grant the individual permit, because that area is not zoned for that purpose.”
Despite these stringent requirements, Olumide blamed the proliferation of unauthorized structures in the Ibeju Lekki-Epe corridor on developers’ actions.
The disclosure has stirred fresh criticism against the government, with many describing it as a sign of poor governance.
One of the shortfalls cited by critics is the overly assertive function of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), which is expected to result in not less than 90 percent approval of buildings in Lagos. The LASBCA is notably at every construction site across the state, and in most cases, sealing them off until approval is given.
Thus, the people imagine, how despite this close monitoring of construction projects in Lagos, the government could boldly announce that 80 percent of buildings in the Ibeju Lekki-Epe corridor lack government approval.
Against this backdrop, critics have raised concerns about the effectiveness of the LASBCA in ensuring compliance with building regulations across the state.
Furthermore, economists warn that this development could have negative implications for Nigeria’s quest for foreign direct investments. The lack of proper regulation and oversight in Nigeria’s commercial capital undermines investor confidence and raises doubts about the government’s commitment to creating a conducive business environment.
In response to the criticism, the commissioner for the environment in Lagos, Tokunbo Wahab, said that the demolished structures were erected in contravention of the city’s master plan and had occluded drainage channels. He added that the government’s actions were by the law, aimed at removing encumbrances obstructing drainage channels.
However, the response has failed to curtail the growing anti-investment sentiment stemming from the state’s approach.
Amidst mounting pressure, the Lagos government faces the daunting task of restoring public trust and ensuring adherence to regulatory standards to foster sustainable development and attract much-needed investment to Nigeria’s commercial hub.
Stakeholders are calling for greater transparency and accountability in the approval process for property development in the state. They note that the revelation of widespread non-compliance underlines the need for stricter enforcement measures to prevent unauthorized construction and safeguard public infrastructure.