Lagos cracks down on illegal construction

The Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) has urged property owners and construction professionals to get the required permits for their projects.

The Director, Public Affairs, LASPPPA, Abimbola Emdin-Umeh, who gave the advice in a statement on Saturday, explained that the move aligned with the state government’s THEMES+ agenda for development.

The statement reads in part: “The LASPPPA has renewed its call on property owners and practitioners in the built environment to voluntarily obtain planning permits for their proposed and built constructions.”

He said the call was reiterated by the General Manager of the authority, Tpl. Kehinde Osinaike, during an interactive meeting with selected real estate developers to evolve strategies to expand the authority’s contribution to the achievement of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES+ agenda.

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He noted that many property owners in Lagos were carrying out construction without the necessary permits, relying solely on the “Green Sticker” or “Letter of Authorisation”, noting that it was of serious concern to the authority as the approvals didn’t replace proper building permits.

Osinaike also condemned the illegal change of use of buildings by converting a residential building into a commercial one or vice-versa without approval.

This, he said, violated zoning regulations and the state’s operating development plan, hence that the general manager had directed the commencement of a state-wide audit of existing buildings in the state to confirm their conformity to the development plan of the state. (NAN)