Lagos Govt clarifies stance on building permits, introduces amnesty window
By Sodiq Adelakun
The Lagos State Government has debunked reports that it revoked all existing building permits, instead introducing a three-month amnesty window for property owners to obtain or perfect their planning permits without penalties.
According to Director of Public Affairs, Oloye Olusegun, in a statement, Lagos State Building Control Agency, the clarification was necessary due to a misleading online report.
He emphasised that the issuance of a Planning Permit is the prerogative of the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority, LASPPPA, under the supervision of the Honourable Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development.
“The directive issued by the Special Adviser on eGIS and Urban Development, Dr Olajide Babatunde, was that Letters of Authorisation to commence construction, issued by the Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA, needed to be revalidated because most developers, after obtaining the letter to commence construction, fall short of engaging all relevant professionals in the building projects,” he said.
He asserted that the revalidation was to allow the agency to conduct a proper audit and authentication of all the professionals who would be engaged in building construction in the state.
He added, “Dr Babatunde also disclosed that buildings under construction that had been abandoned for a long time needed to be recertified before recommencement of construction to ascertain the structural stability of the building project.
“He directed that henceforth, nobody should sleep in buildings undergoing construction, all construction work should not go beyond 7 pm every day, and there should be no building construction work on Sundays.”
Oloye noted that the Special Adviser further directed that property owners and developers should revalidate all letters of authorisation to commence building construction issued to them.
“Dr Babatunde called on developers to always ensure that all relevant professionals in the built environment, such as civil/structural, electrical, and mechanical engineers, and architects, are engaged in building construction,” he added.
