Ayodele Olalere
Former Governor of Lagos State Babatunde Fashola has urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to reduce the cost for administrative approval for buildings as well as the number of agencies responsible for building approvals.
Fashiola spoke during the Lagos State Physical Planning Summit, organized by the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, with the theme: “Rethinking Lagos: A New Vision for a Regional and Integrated Megacity,” held at Eko Hotels, Victoria Island.
Fashola lamented that the number of agencies a prospective builder will seek approvals from are too many thereby making contractors and house owners to bypass government approvals.
He noted that the present administration needs to streamline agencies around building approval.
” The real revenue comes from prompt approval . Reduce and compress the number of agencies. This will not deprive the state of any income but increase it,” Fashola told Sanwo-Olu.
In his address Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced the extension of the amnesty period for owners and developers of buildings without proper planning approvals until December 31, 2024.
The governor had initially set the end of October but extended the opportunity for owners not to incur statutory penalties.
He said the extension was due to the high number of applications received from homeowners.
Governor Sanwo-Olu emphasized that the amnesty programme is part of his administration’s efforts to mitigate the economic challenges faced by the built environment sector while promoting compliance with physical planning regulations to ensure a livable, organized, and sustainable Lagos.
The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, explained that the amnesty programme not only waives penal fees but also offers a discount for payments completed within ten working days during the amnesty period.
He said to apply for the amnesty, applicants must submit required documents for assessment at the District Offices of the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) across the 57 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas, or at the LASPPPA headquarters in Ikeja.
The necessary documents include proof of ownership, survey plans, as-built architectural and structural drawings, non-destructive integrity test reports (if applicable), tax compliance evidence, and other relevant documents.
