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Lagos targets 45,000 annual building permits to manage urban expansion
In a move to better control construction activities and align with the fast-paced population boom, officials in Lagos State have established a goal of granting as many as 45,000 construction authorizations each year.
This initiative was announced by Dr. Olumide Oluyinka, the state’s Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, during a media session held in Alausa on a recent Wednesday, according to reports.
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Oluyinka indicated that his department handled roughly 18,000 requests for development clearances last year, and emphasized the necessity to ramp up to 40,000 or 45,000 such approvals on an annual basis to support broader urban objectives.
“Oluyinka disclosed that the ministry processed about 18,000 planning permit applications in 2024 but needed to double the figure to match the state’s development goals,” the NAN report read in part.
The report also included Oluyinka’s statement: “Our assessment shows that Lagos should be issuing between 40,000 and 45,000 planning permits annually.
“We are far below this mark, which is why we have chosen to go back to the grassroots to sensitise the public and key stakeholders.”
Drawing an analogy, Oluyinka described a development clearance as equivalent to a newborn’s official document for structures, highlighting its role in granting official validity, facilitating administrative oversight, and qualifying owners for reimbursements during public land acquisitions for essential works. He cautioned that unauthorized constructions could lead to fines or removal orders.
Oluyinka pointed out that individuals can file their requests directly at any of the 57 local branches statewide, bypassing any middlemen.
To qualify, submissions require evidence of property title and current tax payments, with decisions anticipated in just 10 business days after all paperwork is verified.
Additionally, he mentioned ongoing partnerships with national revenue agencies to simplify processes and boost adherence, given that a significant number of filers lack proper tax records.
He encouraged locals to view these clearances as a worthwhile commitment to regulatory adherence and structural integrity, adding that uncertified properties are ineligible for uses like financial institutions, diplomatic facilities, or official dealings.
This update precedes a seven-day outreach event titled “Planning Permit: A Rebirth”, designed to involve professionals such as designers, builders, constructors, urban experts, community heads, and even young students, all aimed at encouraging self-initiated adherence.
As Nigeria’s most densely inhabited region, Lagos witnesses a constant surge in construction initiatives. Yet, a large portion of these projects proceed without official endorsement from the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA).
To tackle this challenge, authorities introduced a waiver initiative on May 2, 2024, initially set for 90 days but prolonged through the end of the year on December 31.
This effort enabled owners to legalize existing structures penalty-free, resulting in more than 18,000 submissions and over 8,800 successful validations. Even with these gains, records from state officials reveal just 37,266 total issuances over the previous half-decade.
In response to this disparity between ongoing building activity and formal sanctions, Lagos authorities have now outlined an ambitious annual quota of 40,000 to 45,000 permits to close the divide.
“It demonstrates, in the clearest possible terms, that when citizens act with unity, clarity of purpose, and resolve, they can indeed move mountains.”
These were the exact words with which the African Democratic Congress (ADC), reacted to Tuesday’s agreement of the 10th Senate to reverse the controversial provisions in the Electoral Amendment Bill, in which they earlier retained the discretionary provision of transmission of results of election electronically by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Bolaji Abdullahi, spokesman of the coalition party, attributing the U-turn to the resilience of Nigerians, described the development as a victory for democracy and people-powered civic action.
Abdullahi, a former Minister, who called on Nigerians to stay alert and continue mounting pressure on relevant authorities until the amended bill secures presidential assent, is duly gazetted, and takes full legal effect, urged Nigerians to maintain eternal vigilance.
Following a groundswell of outrage across the country, regarding its initial decision to retain the 2022 provision and subsequent protests, which saw Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party in 2023 and Rotimi Amaechi, former Governor Rivers State, teaming up with a group of Nigerians on Monday and Tuesday, respectively, the Senate eventually bowed to pressure mandating the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit elections to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), real time, but with a proviso to use manual collation only as a contingency in cases of technological failure.
Hailing the development, ADC stated that the recant by the lawmakers was beyond a simple legislative reversal, but a reflection of the resilience, alertness, and growing political awareness of Nigerians from all segments of society.
The statement, added: “The decision of the 10th Senate to urgently reverse the contentious provisions of the Electoral Amendment Bill that it passed is a significant victory for the Nigerian people.
“This outcome is not merely a legislative U-turn. It is a testament to the resilience, vigilance, and rising political consciousness of Nigerians across all walks of life. From street protests to digital campaigns, the Nigerian people have once again shown that sovereignty truly belongs to them.
“In the face of the ruling APC’s habitual disregard for due process and democratic values, the Nigerian people have reaffirmed their place as the ultimate custodians of our democracy.
“In this regard, the African Democratic Congress salutes the courage and tenacity of Nigerians. We commend every citizen who raised their voice, whether online or offline, to resist legislative mischief that threatened to undermine our electoral integrity.”
Calling on Nigerians to remain steadfast, stressing that the development represents only a step in the right direction, not the final victory, the party, added: “We must now ensure that this momentum is sustained until the amended bill is not only passed but duly assented to by the President, properly gazetted, and becomes an enforceable law of the Federal Republic.
“We must remain vigilant to ensure there are no last-minute betrayals or technical ambiguities, the kind that often lead to ‘stories that touch.’ Let this be a reminder that democracy does not thrive in silence or indifference. It demands participation, persistence, and sometimes, peaceful defiance.”
Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Tuesday, confirmed that President Bola Tinubu has once again intervened to stem the political schism between the Rivers State House of Assembly and Siminalayi Fubara, the governor that would have led to the latter’s impeachment.
But the Minister, left a caveat – this is the last time the President would be making such an intervention – as he added that both sides would now have to work according to the terms agreed at the parley.
In the latest faceoff which started early in the year, 27 members of the assembly said to be loyal to Wike, had launched a fresh impeachment move against the governor – the third since he took office in 2023, accusing him of sundry infractions of the constitution including spending money without appropriation.
Fubara, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), last year, was believed to have run to the President for succour, whose intervention is believed to have halted the move.
Giving details of the rapprochement, Wike told reporters in Abuja, on Tuesday that the President playing a fatherly role stepped in to resolve disputes between the two parties.
His words: “He is very kind to the people of the state. If there seems to be any problem between the legislature and the governor, as a father, he really has to intervene.
“This is the second time Mr President is intervening and I believe by the grace of God that this will be the last time Mr President will intervene.”
Wike, who has since been linked to the crises from the outset and in firm grips of the lawmakers, also pointed out his own role in the matter, saying: “I have told them to obey Mr President and I know that they would not hesitate.”
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday finally sent the name of Usman Isa Dakingari, former Governor of Kebbi State to the Senate for confirmation as as a non-career ambassador after last month’s embarrassing mix-up in which his name suddenly appeared for posting to Turkey without legislative clearance.
Tinubu, in a correspondence conveying the appointment, which was read by Godswill Akpabio, said: “I write for confirmation by the Senate, the appointment of Usman Isa Dakingari as non-career ambassador,.
“Whilst I hope that the senate will consider and confirm the nominee expeditiously, please accept, distinguished senate president, the assurances of my highest consideration.”
After reading the letter at plenary, the Senate President, said the matter would be referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs for consideration and report back to the Committee of Whole within one week.
Electoral Act: Don’t go to sleep, maintain eternal vigilance, ADC tells Nigerians
This is the last time Tinubu will intervene in Rivers’ row – Wike
Tinubu finally sends Dakingari’s name to Senate after ambassadorial posting row
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