By Bilkis Abdulraheem Lawal
Town planners under the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development have pledged to drastically cut the State’s long-standing building approval deficit through improved coordination, stronger enforcement, increased staffing, and a fully digital planning system.
The resolution emerged at the Lagos State Physical Planning Post-Summit/Management Retreat held at Jubilee Chalets, Epe, where government officials, professionals, and sector stakeholders assessed progress made since the 2024 Lagos Physical Planning Summit and outlined new strategies to strengthen urban governance in Africa’s fastest-growing megacity.
Speaking at the retreat, Deputy Governor Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat emphasised that proper land-use planning is central to Lagos’ economic growth, safety, and overall liveability.
“Proper land planning is fundamental to the success of Lagos State. Citizens and developers must adhere strictly to regulations, while government processes must remain transparent, fair, and efficient,” he said.
He added that planning-related databases across ministries and agencies must be fully linked to ensure seamless application processing and restore public confidence.
Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, described the building approval deficit as both a governance and public safety risk that must be urgently resolved.
“This retreat marks a renewed commitment to remove bottlenecks, simplify procedures, embrace digital tools, and enforce development strictly in line with the law,” he stated, noting that Lagos must upgrade its systems to match the pressures of rapid urbanisation.
Permanent Secretary, Office of Physical Planning, Engr. Olumide Sotire, presented the harmonised deliverables, stressing the importance of data integration and institutional reform. He revealed that initiatives such as Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI), the Lagos Land Use Classification System, and interlinked MDA platforms will significantly improve efficiency and cut approval turnaround time.
The retreat also featured former Commissioners and Permanent Secretaries, Toyin Ayinde, Francisco Abosede, Idris Salako, and Ayodele Adediran, whose expertise provided valuable historical context and guidance for continuity in policy implementation.
Stakeholders, including REDAN President Bamidele Onalaja, highlighted persistent challenges such as inadequate staff, outdated maps, institutional overlaps, and low public trust, all of which contribute to building approval delays and unregulated development.
Key resolutions adopted include:
Full rollout of the Electronic Planning Permit System Restoration and upgrade of the LPPS Portal Statewide adoption of Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) Fast-tracking the digitally coded Lagos Land Use Classification System (208 categories) Recruitment of additional technical personnel Establishment of more technical departments across planning MDAs Enhanced inter-agency coordination Intensive public awareness campaigns on obtaining planning approvals
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