The Lagos State government said it has suspended further development of housing estates without the requisite layout approval in the area designated as Sapata Village Excision, near the Victoria Garden City ( VGC), Lekki.
A statement by the state’s Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, signed by Mukaila Sanusi, Assistant Director, Public Affairs, said the suspension is to pave way for orderly and sustainable development of the area.
He said the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako, made this known in Alausa on Wednesday while receiving situation report of the area in his office.
Salako said in the statement that due to the ongoing construction of a regional road in the area, developers have taken advantage to indiscriminately build estates in contravention of the state planning laws.
“I have said repeatedly that we must halt the ugly situation in which planning had to chase development as against the opposite.
“As a result, developments around this corridor must be controlled to prevent another slum from springing up in the state as any unplanned development in the area will ultimately negate the expected benefits of the regional road,” Salako was quoted in the statement.
The commissioner, therefore, ordered that estates within Sapata Village Excision, to the right of Harries Drive, from VGC junction down to the lagoon must, as a matter of urgency, come forward with their approvals, including layout, planning permit and stage certificates or make immediate recourse to the appropriate government agencies for same; otherwise no further development would be allowed in such estates.
He added that all hands must be on deck towards achieving an orderly, organised, livable and sustainable physical environment as envisioned by the development agenda of Lagos State.
Salako further urged that prospective landed property buyers and off-takers should be wary of estates or properties without approvals, in order not to jeopardise their investment.
“It is important that prospective landed property buyers and off-takers demand for the necessary layout approvals, planning permit and evidence of stage certification for the concerned property before committing their hard-earned resources,” he emphasised.
