Lagos seals over 45 buildings over planning violations

The Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority has sealed more than 45 buildings in Eko and Ifako-Ijaiye districts for alleged violations of physical planning regulations.

The enforcement operations were conducted by the authority’s Monitoring and Compliance Unit on Wednesday in Ifako-Ijaiye and Thursday in Eko District.

In a statement posted on its Facebook page on Thursday, LASPPPA said 25 properties were sealed in Ifako-Ijaiye over offences including operating without valid planning permits, excessive building density, unauthorised remodelling, deviation from approved plans and construction without approval.

In a separate update on Friday, the agency announced that more than 20 buildings had also been sealed in Eko District for various planning infractions.

It disclosed that 10 properties were sealed for deviating from approved building plans, while five each were affected for excessive density and carrying out remodelling without the necessary permits.

Other properties were sealed for undertaking construction activities without obtaining planning approval.

The authority explained that the affected property owners and developers had previously received contravention notices from their respective district offices but failed to comply with the directives.

“Contravention notices had been served by the district office previously, but compliance was not achieved,” the agency stated.

LASPPPA urged the affected owners and developers to visit their nearest district office or its headquarters at Oba Akinjobi Way, GRA, Ikeja, to regularise their properties and obtain further guidance.

Meanwhile, a source within the agency, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said monitoring and enforcement of physical planning regulations remained continuous exercises.

Physical planning regulations in Lagos are designed to ensure that buildings and property developments comply with approved plans, land-use requirements, safety standards and other development guidelines.

LASPPPA is responsible for processing physical planning permits and monitoring compliance with approved development plans across the state.