The Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) said on Tuesday it sealed more than 700 buildings for various contraventions in 2023.

The General Manager, LASPPPA, Mr Kehinde Osinaike, disclosed this while leading an enforcement team of the authority across Ikeja Local Government area of the state.

Osinaike said that the authority was embarking on early measures to avert building collapses in 2024.

He explained that this was intended to tame physical planning infractions so as to curb building collapse in line with the vision of the state.

The general manager said that the state government was committed to the sustainable growth and development of Lagos as well as a well-planned and organised urban environment for the benefit of all residents.

He said that some recalcitrant developers either ignored or broke government seals to continue illegal construction, hence the need to start early enforcement in 2024.

“In 2023, we sealed more than 700 buildings all over the state. A substantial number of them came back to more or less regularise their papers, and when they met the requirements, we unsealed them and regularised their papers,” Osinaike said.

He commended the large number of residents who embraced voluntary compliance in 2023 and appealed to recalcitrant developers and property owners to change their ways.

The general manager said that voluntary compliance ensured the safety of lives and investments.

He said it also helped to achieve orderliness in the environment.

Osinaike appealed to Lagos residents to always approach the closest LASPPPA district offices across the local governments before embarking on either land purchase or property development.

He said information like availability and suitability of vacant land, purpose, and other variables could be checked before the purchase of land.

The general manager said there were currently 50 district offices scattered across the state, and the government was planning to create additional ones.

Osinaike said obtaining planning permits had been made faster through reforms and innovations put in place by the authority, adding that approval could be granted within 10 days.

“We are also using this opportunity to inform the good people of Lagos that whenever they wish to acquire any landed property in any part of the state, be it vacant land or an existing building, it is also important that they contact the nearest town planning office.

”If they do, they will be guided and given information about the provability of that landed property,” he said.

He said that the planning office would also be able to give advice on encroachments on roads, drains, and other right-of-way setbacks.

“Our vision for the year 2024 is to try as much as possible to reduce illegal developments to the barest minimum and to also ensure that there is no form of building collapse within the state.

“The other one is that we are also imploring the good people of Lagos to embrace voluntary compliance.

“It is beneficial to every member of the public and the government in terms of safety and ensuring that we have an orderly and serene environment,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the enforcement began in Ikeja GRA and moved to other parts of the local government, where more than 40 properties, including hotels, were sealed.

Fresh contravention notices were served on some properties; others were resealed, and stop-work orders were issued as the team carried out conformity checks. (NAN)

Vanguard News