Lagos demolishes 17 illegal structures, seals 52 buildings over planning violations

The Lagos State Government has demolished 17 illegal structures and sealed 52 others across different parts of the state as part of ongoing efforts to enforce physical planning laws and restore order within the built environment.

The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Abiodun Oluyinka Olumide, disclosed this on Friday during the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing held in Alausa, Ikeja, where he presented the ministry’s scorecard for the third year of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term.

Olumide explained that the enforcement operations were carried out following investigations into several public complaints and disputes relating to property development across the state.

According to him, the ministry’s Technical Services Department received 987 petitions within the review period, out of which 399 cases were resolved through mediation and compliance measures, while 519 petitions are still under investigation.

“As part of our enforcement activities, 17 structures were removed and 52 others sealed for various planning infractions,” he said.

The commissioner noted that the ministry’s interventions had helped to reduce litigation, minimise conflicts arising from enforcement actions, and improve public confidence in the state’s physical development control efforts.

He also stated that the ministry recorded major achievements in urban planning and development management with the completion of three key planning documents, namely the Lagos Island Model City Plan, the Ibeju-Lekki Model City Plan, and the Revised Badagry Master Plan.

According to him, the planning frameworks are expected to guide infrastructure development, land-use administration, and sustainable urban growth across Lagos State.

Olumide further disclosed that monitoring and compliance activities were intensified in housing estates and developing communities across the state, adding that 205 estates were inspected during the review period to ensure adherence to approved layout plans and development regulations.

To protect residents from fraudulent real estate schemes, the commissioner said the ministry published details of 176 illegal estates operating without approved layout plans, while advising prospective property buyers to verify approvals before committing funds to transactions.

He also revealed that the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority processed 21,603 planning permit applications between June 2025 and March 2026, approving 17,279 applications within the period.

Olumide added that a 60-day amnesty programme introduced between October and December 2025 significantly boosted compliance, attracting 7,198 permit applications and leading to 4,113 approvals.

He described the launch of the Electronic Physical Planning Permit Processing System, e-PPPS, as one of the major milestones achieved by the ministry during the review period.

According to him, the digital platform allows applicants to process planning permits online from any location, thereby improving transparency, operational efficiency, and ease of doing business in the state.