….Building of 5 floors and above will now have CCTV
While briefing the Media at the Ministerial Press briefing to commemorate the 2nd year of the second term of Governor Babajide Sanwo- Olu, the Commissioner For Physical Planning & Urban Development by Dr. Oluyinka A Biodun Olumide said the ministry has enhanced focus, achieved through laudable initiatives such as stakeholders’ collaboration, amnesty programme and physical planning summit. He said the government has also put plans in motion to curb incessant building collapse in the State and as a result henceforth the law that mandates Lead builders at site to have requisite academic certification and with the government is now compulsory in addition to certified artisans such as Bricklayers, Plumber’s, Carpenters, Iron Bender’s etc.According to him his Office received and investigated petitions submitted by aggrieved members of the public and whistleblowers, relating to land use and development disputes as well as perceived physical planning infractions.He said: “A significant 70.24 percent of cases were resolved through mediation to prevent costly litigation and minimise the burden on the courts. A mediation resolution rate of 70.24 percent demonstrates the Office’s effectiveness in resolving majority of petitions amicably, minimising the need for enforcement actions and reducing the burden of enforcement and litigation”.The Commissioner also frowned at the construction of estate’s in Agricultural Lands in lkorodu, Epe and lbeju- Lekki and said the government will come down hard on such infractions. “Such lands are sold out by Omonile’s to unsuspecting Developers. We appeal to the public especially Developers on the need for status confirmation from Lands Bureau or Physical Planning & Urban Development ministry before making commitments in buying land for Estate and housing development”. “Again, Nigerian’s in Diaspora are falsely made to believe in the authenticity of such transactions thereby loosing their hard earned money to fraudsters”.Also, there are plans for buildings of 5 floors and above to show evidence of CCTV cameras so that the site will be easily monitored by relevant agencies of government and eventually be linked with the Police security system to ensure safety and security of all citizens.On Master and Model City Plans , Oluyinka said to ensure that all parts of the State are covered by a Plan, the Lagos State Government has initiated or reviewed the following Plans: Ikorodu Sub-Regional Master Plan (2017 – 2037), Kosofe Model City Plan (2020 -2040), Lagos Island Model City Plan and Ibeju – Lekki Model City Plan.Others are Alimosho Model City Plan, Lekki Comprehensive Master Plan, Ikorodu Sub-Region Master Plan and Kosofe Model City Plan.Speaking on Excised villages, the Commissioner said to make them more sustainable and address the need to extend physical planning administration to Non-Schemed Areas, the Office has ensured the completion and approval for use of a total of 9(nine) Development Guide Plans initiated for Awoyaya, Orimedu and Eleputu in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area. Others and Sangotedo, Langbasa and Onikoyi in Eti-Osa Local Government Area, Suberu-Oje in Alimosho Local Government Area, Apa and Ketu-Ijanikin in Badagry and Ojo Local Government respectively.As part of the achievement of the Ministry for the year in its statutory responsibilities, he said it received a total of 77 Applications, granted 35 Provisional Layout Plan Approvals and 6 Final Layout Plan Approvals between 2024 and April 2025, he stated.On the Amnesty Programme, he said the initial 90-day amnesty period to property owners and developers of existing developments from 2nd May to 30th July, 2024, were extended by Governor Sanwo-Olu for another 90 days days from 1st August to 31st December, 2024, making a total of 180-day amnesty period granted.According to him the initiative was to improve building Approval coverage in the State by allowing owners/ developers of existing buildings to obtain Planning Permits without the payment of statutory penal fees within the amnesty window.
