Lagos demolishes 17 illegal structures, seals 52 buildings over planning violations

The Lagos State Government has demolished 17 illegal structures and sealed 52 others across various parts of the state in an ongoing enforcement drive aimed at ensuring compliance with physical planning regulations.

The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Abiodun Olumide, disclosed this on Friday during the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing held in Alausa, Ikeja, where he presented the ministry’s performance report for the third year of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term.

He said the enforcement actions were carried out following investigations into multiple petitions and complaints concerning unlawful property developments across Lagos State.

According to him, the ministry’s Technical Services Department received 987 petitions during the period under review, out of which 399 were resolved through mediation and compliance processes, while 519 remain under investigation.

Olumide said, “As part of our enforcement activities, 17 structures were removed and 52 others sealed for various planning infractions.”

He explained that the interventions were aimed at reducing disputes, minimising litigation, and improving public confidence in the state’s development control system.

The commissioner also noted that the ministry recorded progress in urban planning through the completion of three key planning documents, including the Lagos Island Model City Plan, the Ibeju-Lekki Model City Plan, and the Revised Badagry Master Plan.

He said the frameworks are intended to guide land use, infrastructure development, and sustainable urban growth across the state.

Olumide added that compliance monitoring was intensified across housing estates and developing communities, with 205 estates inspected to ensure adherence to approved layout plans and regulations.

He also revealed that the ministry published a list of 176 illegal estates operating without approved layout plans, advising prospective property buyers to verify approvals before making investments.

According to him, the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority processed 21,603 applications between June 2025 and March 2026, approving 17,279 within the period.

He further stated that a 60-day amnesty programme introduced between October and December 2025 boosted compliance, attracting 7,198 applications and resulting in 4,113 approvals.

Olumide highlighted the introduction of the Electronic Physical Planning Permit Processing System (e-PPPS) as a key achievement, noting that it allows residents to process building permits online, improving transparency, efficiency, and ease of doing business in Lagos State.