The Lagos State Government has sealed 20 houses at various completion stages in Isheri-North Government Reservation Area (GRA) of the state.
Mr Mukaila Sanusi, spokesman, Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, said in a statement that they were sealed for non-compliance with the state’s construction laws.
The statement was made available to newsmen in Lagos on Thursday.
Dr Idris Salako, the Commissioner in the ministry, is quoted in the statement as saying that the builders were not able to produce on demand Planning Permits authorising construction of the buildings.
The commissioner said the government had warned during routine compliance monitoring of the area, that it would not condone illegal building construction inimical to orderly and sustainable development.
“I wish to emphasise again that owners and developers should follow the process to apply and obtain Planning Permits before construction, make recourse to the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) for stage certification and indicate that the building is safe, complete and habitable,” he said.
The commissioner advised residents and professionals in the built environment not to view the requirement for Planning Permit from revenue angle alone.
“They should see the merit of safety, orderliness and organised setting, which complies with the Planning Laws of the State, in addition to preventing the menace of building collapse”.
Salako said it was important for property owners or developers to make available on demand their Planning Permits, because ministry officials would consistently monitor all building construction sites.
He said that the monitoring team would request to see the enabling Permit, duly issued by the government, through the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority(LASPPPA).
Mr Ganiyu Ayuba, Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Urban Development, is quoted as saying the state government had adopted measures to further ease the process and time-line for approvals.
Ayuba said that the 28 days for obtaining Planning Permit was sacrosanct.
He said the government had upgraded and stabilised the electronic planning permit, a platform for people to process their approval.
Ayuba urged the public to use the platform for easy processing of their documents.
