The Lagos State Government has raised serious concerns over a widening gap in the number of building permit applications, revealing an annual shortfall of 22,000 approvals across the state.

Speaking during a press briefing held on Wednesday at Alausa, Ikeja, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Olumide Oluyinka, disclosed that only 12,000 planning permits were approved in 2024, far below the estimated annual requirement of 40,000 to 45,000 permits based on the state’s growing population and rapid urban development.

Dr. Oluyinka warned that structures erected without the necessary planning approvals are at risk of demolition.

He noted that the government has commenced a week-long stakeholders’ engagement aimed at addressing the deficit and raising public awareness, particularly among rural communities, about the importance of obtaining planning permits.

The engagement, which began earlier in the week and will conclude on Friday, September 26, 2025, includes sessions with professionals in the built environment such as town planners, architects, engineers, builders, surveyors, and estate developers.

“A lot of people, including market women and residents in rural areas, are still unaware of the necessity and legal requirement of a planning permit. This engagement is designed to bridge that knowledge gap and foster cooperation,” Oluyinka stated.

Highlighting the broader implications, the Commissioner likened the importance of a planning permit to a birth certificate.

“Just like every child is given a birth certificate, every building must have a planning permit for proper documentation, legal recognition, and future development planning,” he said.

The commissioner emphasized that planning permits are essential not just for compliance with state laws, but also for infrastructure planning, documentation of property ownership, and as valid collateral for bank loans.

Dr. Oluyinka also reiterated the role of the planning permit in ensuring orderly development and enabling the government to keep accurate records of built-up areas.

He noted that buildings without such documentation may be unrecognized in future urban development projects, such as road expansions or public infrastructure delivery.

“We are taking this message to the grassroots, starting with school children, who are the future leaders to instil the value of planning compliance from a young age,” he added.

The commissioner affirmed that the government would continue its sensitization efforts and warned that enforcement measures, including demolitions, could be taken against non-compliant structures. (Daily Sun)