- Sanwo-Olu Warns: Lagos Will Not Tolerate Building Without Permits
- He stressed that planning permits should not be seen as bureaucratic bottlenecks but as certificates of safety
- Traditional leaders also appealed for cooperation with officials
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has warned that his administration will not condone lawlessness in physical development, insisting that no building must rise in the state without a valid planning permit, Eko Hot Blog reports.
The governor, represented by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Samuel Egube, issued the warning on Friday at a stakeholder forum organised by the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA), themed “Planning Permit: The Rebirth.”
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Sanwo-Olu urged residents, estate managers, and developers to desist from obstructing officials during enforcement, describing such resistance as a threat to public safety and the state’s vision of becoming Africa’s model megacity.
“Sometimes, some of us behave as if freedom is equal to lawlessness,” the governor said. “But in modern societies, freedom means being able to predict the behaviour of an environment by complying with the laws in that environment. Our administration will not condone disobedience against those sent to enforce compliance on behalf of Lagosians.”
He stressed that planning permits should not be seen as bureaucratic bottlenecks but as certificates of safety, legitimacy, and long-term value for property owners.
Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, lamented the “embarrassingly low” number of approved buildings in the state, warning that many developers continue to bypass regulatory requirements and endanger lives.
Olumide cited a recent incident where enforcement officers were harassed and detained while attempting to stop work on an unsafe five-storey warehouse. “The law is very clear: there shall be no physical development in any part of Lagos without approval from the planning authority,” he said.
In his keynote address, former Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Tpl. Olutoyin Ayinde, identified bureaucratic bottlenecks, political interference, and revenue-driven practices as factors undermining effective development control.
He called for a “rebirth” of the system through a one-stop shop for permits, stronger inter-agency collaboration, and greater transparency.
Other speakers, including the Special Adviser to the Governor on e-GIS and Planning Matters, Dr. Olajide Babatunde, and LASPPPA General Manager, Kehinde Sunday Osinaike, reiterated the importance of compliance and pledged to simplify the permit process.
Traditional leaders also appealed for cooperation with officials, stressing that building regulations exist to safeguard citizens.
Closing the forum, Sanwo-Olu urged participants to embrace a culture of compliance: “Let no building rise without proper approval. Let compliance become the norm rather than the exception. The rebirth we talk about must lead to a safer and more liveable Lagos.”
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