We sealed 700 properties in 2023 — Lagos Agency

The Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) on Tuesday said it sealed more than 700 buildings for various contraventions in 2023.

Mr Kehinde Osinaike, General Manager, LASPPPA, disclosed this while leading an enforcement team of the authority across Ikeja Local Government area of the state.

Osinaike said that the authority was embarking on early measures to avert building collapse in 2024.

He explained that this was with a view to taming physical planning infractions so as to curb building collapse in line with the vision of the state.

The general manager said that the state government was committed to the sustainable growth and development of Lagos as well as a well-planned and organised urban environment for the benefit of all residents.

He said that some recalcitrant developers either ignored or broke government seal to continue illegal construction, hence the need to start early enforcement in 2024.

“In 2023, we sealed more than 700 buildings all over the state. Substantial number of them actually came back to more or less regularise their papers, and when they meet the requirements, we unsealed them and regularised their papers,” Osinaike said.

He commended the large number of residents who embraced voluntary compliance in 2023 and appealed to recalcitrant developers and property owners to change their ways

The general manger said that voluntary compliance ensured safety of lives and investments.

He said it also helped to achieve orderliness in the environment.

Osinaike appealed to Lagos residents to always approach the closest LASPPPA district offices across the local governments before embarking on either land purchase or property development.

He said information like availability and suitability of vacant land, purpose and other variables could be checked before purchase of land.

The general manager said there were currently 50 district offices scattered across the state, and government was planning to create additional ones.

Osinaike said obtaining of planning permits had been made faster through reforms and innovations put in place by the authority, adding that, approval could be granted within 10 days.

“We are also using this opportunity to inform the good people of Lagos that whenever they wish to acquire any landed property in any part of the state, be it a vacant land, an existing building, it is also important that they contact the nearest town planning office.

”If they do, they will be guided and given information about the approvability of that landed property”, he said.

He said that, the planning office would also be able to give advice on encroachments on roads, drains and other Right of Way setbacks.

“Our vision for the year (2024) is to try as much as possible to reduce illegal developments to the barest minimum, and to also ensure that there is no form of collapse of building within the state.

“The other one is that we are also imploring the good people of Lagos to embrace voluntary compliance.

“It is beneficial to every member of the public and to the government in terms of safety and ensuring that we have orderly and serene environment,” he said.

Supreme News reports that the enforcement began from Ikeja GRA and moved to other parts of the local government where more than 40 properties, including hotels, were sealed.

Fresh contravention notices were served on some properties, others resealed and stop works orders issued as the team carried out conformity checks.