LAGOS, Nigeria — The Lagos State Government announced on Monday, August 28, 2023, that obtaining a planning permit will now take just 10 working days.
This significant move, a drop from the previous 28 days, comes as part of a series of measures to enhance the ease of business in Lagos.
General Manager of the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority, LASPPPA, Kehinde Osinaike, on Monday, August 28, 2023, announced a one-day seminar co-organized with the Real Estate Development Association of Nigeria, REDAN.
The seminar was aptly themed, “Improving the Planning Permit Process for Ease of Doing Business in Lagos State.”
Osinaike outlined various innovations introduced by the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to make the planning permit process “attractive, friendly, and seamless.”
One key innovation is the “10-Day Deal,” mandating that certain categories of development proposals complete their planning permit process within 10 working days.
The General Manager also mentioned the addition of 20 more District Offices to expedite workload and bring the offices closer to the people.
“We are committed to having offices in all the 57 local government areas,” Osinaike affirmed. “This is in fulfillment of the government policy that believes in a voluntary compliance approach to planning permits.”
In the seminar, other state agencies also took the opportunity to communicate new guidelines and requirements.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Mr. Kehinde Gbajumo, urged REDAN executives to enlighten their members on laws and procedures relating to waterfront clearance, a prerequisite for obtaining planning permits on lands abutting water.
“A well-articulated plan will not yield the desired results in transforming the cities for good if its intent and purpose are not fully adhered to,” Osinaike added, highlighting the importance of compliance with existing laws, including the Lagos State Physical Planning and Development Law 2010 and the Lagos State Building Control Regulations 2019.
The move to streamline the planning permit process is welcomed by many in the real estate sector, who view it as a proactive step in addressing the housing needs and infrastructural development of Africa’s most populous city.
With the state government also urging heightened measures for construction safety and material testing, Lagos appears to be taking a comprehensive approach to improve its built environment.
Head of Research and Development in the Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory, Mrs. Titilayo Lawal, stressed the need for rigorous testing of building materials to ensure safer structures.
Lanre Mojola, Director-General of the Lagos Safety Commission, emphasized the importance of occupational safety at construction sites.
The 10-day planning permit process is just a part of Lagos State’s broader strategy to stimulate economic growth and encourage investment, but it marks an important step in making the metropolis more business-friendly and primed for sustainable development.
