The Lagos State Government has issued a stern warning to estate developers violating planning regulations and converting land reserved for agriculture and industry into residential estates.
Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Oluyinka Olumide, disclosed this on Wednesday during a stakeholder briefing in Lagos.
He said inspections uncovered widespread infractions, particularly in Ibeju-Lekki, Eti-Osa, and neighbouring communities. According to him, some developers have been converting non-residential land into estates without obtaining layout approvals, marketing such properties to unsuspecting buyers, including Nigerians in the diaspora, despite the land being unsuitable for housing.
“Before going into estate development, layout approval is mandatory. Many parcels, especially around Lekki, Eti-Osa, and Ibeju-Lekki, lack this approval. Those who ignore this will not obtain planning packages and risk sanctions,” Olumide cautioned.
The ministry has given erring developers 21 working days to regularise their projects. While a number have complied, the commissioner warned that others could face sealing and have their estates declared illegal.
Olumide further announced that the minimum land size required for layout approval has been reduced from 10,000 square metres to 5,000 square metres in response to rising demand for estate development.
He stressed the importance of adhering to regional and model city plans to ensure orderly urban growth and avoid problems such as flooding, blocked waterways, and land disputes associated with poorly designed estates.
The government had earlier published a list of 176 “illegal estates” operating without layout approval, reinforcing its resolve to enforce planning laws and protect residents as well as the environment.