By Ibrahim Salaudeen, Lagos
Lagos State Government has warned that it would seal off all illegal estates operating in the state at the expiration of the Amnesty windows granted to developers to regularise their approvals.
The state government said it would not abandon its duty of care to majority of the citizens by turning its eyes away from gross irregularity in the building and real estate sector, reaffirming that it was illegal to start construction without the necessary government approvals.
Commissioner for Physical Planning & Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, who disclosed this at a maiden quarterly meeting, advised subscribers to estates to be wary and ask for relevant documents before parting with their hard-earned money, lest they lose their investment.
The Daily Crucible reports that Lagos State Government had recently declared 176 estates in the state as illegal.
It also warned the public, especially subscribers, against engaging in any transaction with them, adding that any development in such estates would be deemed illegal with appropriate sanction applied according to the law.
Investigations revealed that the developers of the 176 estates, which are largely situated in the fast-developing Eti-Osa, Ajah, Ibeju-Lekki and Epe axis of Lagos state, were operating them without layout approvals from the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.
The Ministry, however, directed the offending developers to take advantage of a 21-day window to submit all necessary documents about their properties to process “layout approvals” or risk having them sealed.
However, despite providing developers of the alleged 176 illegal estates windows of opportunities to regularise their approvals, it was learnt that 43 of them have begun talks with the relevant state government ministry on the matter but 133 others have failed to seize such opportunities – they shunned it.
The Commissioner for Physical Planning & Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, said the only option left for the state government was to seal off the estates at the expiration of the amnesty windows granted to developers.
Olumide expressed concern that some of the developers were developing on land designated for agriculture and infrastructure because they didn’t deem it fit to do due diligence or clear with the government and get the necessary approvals before embarking on estate development.
He said after the ongoing exercise in Etiosa Local Government Area (LGA) and Epe axis, government would focus its attention to Ikorodu and Badagry divisions to restore sanity to the two places.
“The law states that before developing an estate in Lagos, developers must have proof of land ownership like a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) or Governor’s Consent, a current Tax Clearance Certificate and an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report.
“They must also obtain a Planning Permit from Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA), by submitting stamped architectural, survey and structural drawings, along with other required documents and fees,” he said.
The commissioner cited Deed of Assignment, which is a legal document that records the sale of the property; Planning & Environmental Approvals, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), architectural and structural drawings, which must be approved by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) as other requirements.
According to him, the approved architectural and structural drawings must be signed, sealed and stamped by a registered architect and a COREN – Registered structural engineer, with a Survey Plan, which is a map of the land showing boundaries that must be registered in the Lagos database.
Note: Cover picture is for illustration of estate, it is unconnected to any illegal estates in Lagos or elsewhere.
