Lagos Threatens To Demolish Buildings Without Approvals

Lagos State authorities has expressedconcerns implicit a widening spread successful gathering licence applications and threatened to demolish buildings without approval.

SAt a property briefing yesterday astatine Alausa, Ikeja, the commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Olumide Oluyinka, said lone 12,000 readying permits were approved successful 2024, acold beneath the estimated yearly request of 40,000 to 45,000 permits based connected the state’s increasing colonisation and accelerated municipality development.

Oluyinka warned that structures erected without the indispensable readying approvals are astatine hazard of demolition.

He noted that the authorities has commenced a week-long stakeholder engagement to code the shortage and rise nationalist consciousness astir the value of obtaining readying permits, peculiarly among agrarian communities.

The engagement, which began earlier successful the week and volition reason connected Friday, September 26, 2025, includes sessions with professionals successful the built environment, specified arsenic municipality planners, architects, engineers, builders, surveyors, and property developers.

“Many people, including marketplace women and residents successful agrarian areas, are inactive unaware of the necessity and ineligible request of a readying permit.

“This engagement is designed to span that cognition spread and foster cooperation,” Oluyinka stated.
Highlighting the broader implications, the Commissioner likened the value of a readying licence to a commencement certificate.

“Just similar each kid is fixed a commencement certificate, each gathering indispensable person a readying licence for due documentation, ineligible recognition, and aboriginal improvement planning,” helium said.

The commissioner emphasised that readying permits are indispensable not conscionable for compliance with authorities laws, but besides for infrastructure planning, documentation of spot ownership, and arsenic valid collateral for slope loans.

Dr Oluyinka besides reiterated the relation of the readying licence successful ensuring orderly improvement and enabling the authorities to support close records of built-up areas.

He noted that buildings without specified documentation whitethorn beryllium unrecognised successful aboriginal municipality improvement projects, specified arsenic roadworthy expansions oregon nationalist infrastructure delivery.

“We are taking this connection to the grassroots, starting with schoolhouse children, who are the aboriginal leaders, to instil the worth of readying compliance from a young age,” helium added.

The commissioner affirmed that the authorities would proceed its sensitisation efforts and warned that enforcement measures, including demolitions, could beryllium taken against non-compliant structures.