Lagos State Govt Decries High Rate Of Illegal Development

Alarmed at the rate of unapproved and illegal development going on in Ikoyi and Banana Island, the Lagos State Government has asked property owners in those areas to come forth with the planning permits granted for their building construction and also evidence of stage certification obtained from the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) or have their buildings sealed.

The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako, gave the directive on Saturday during the continuation of the Special Enforcement Operations led by the officials of the Ministry in Ikoyi and environs.
According to him “The rate at which developers in these elite areas flout the State’s planning laws by going ahead to erect buildings without the necessary permits is disturbing. The untoward act that is inimical to the sustainable development of our environment must be curtailed in the interest of all”.

He said that property owners in Ikoyi and Banana Island must produce, on-demand, their planning permits and evidence of stage certification or risk their property being sealed up in furtherance of the State policy of ‘Zero Tolerance’ for illegal developments.

While maintaining that the government intends to extend the exercise to other parts of the State, Salako declared that the present administration is determined to guard the operative development plans and curb illegal physical developments in Lagos.

He expressed dismay at the high rate of infractions discovered along the axis since the beginning of the Special Enforcement Operation midweek, saying that “During the enforcement on Saturday alone, 22 buildings were sealed for lack of building permits and conformity issues. Of this total, 16 were sealed on Banana Island while six were sealed at Adeyemi Lawson, Mcpherson and surrounding streets in Ikoyi”.

Salako urged those whose property was sealed due to these infractions to report to the Office of the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja to perfect their documents.

Recall that the Special Enforcement Operation is a joint exercise by the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA), Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) and the Special Operations Team in the Governor’s Office to sanitise the built environment in Lagos State.