Lagos State Government clarifies stance on building permits

The Lagos State Government has clarified that it has not revoked all existing building permits, contrary to reports circulating in some online media.

The clarification was made by Mr. Olaoye Olusegun, Director of Public Affairs at the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), in a statement on Sunday.

Mr. Olusegun described the reports as untrue and misleading, urging the public to disregard them.

He explained that the issuance of Planning Permits falls under the jurisdiction of the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority, which operates under the supervision of the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development.

“The directive issued by the Special Adviser on eGIS and Urban Development, Dr. Olajide Babatunde, pertains to the revalidation of Letters of Authorisation to commence construction, which are issued by LASBCA,” Mr. Olusegun said.

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He elaborated that many developers, after obtaining the authorization to begin construction, fail to engage all the necessary professionals for their building projects.

“The revalidation process is intended to allow the agency to conduct a proper audit and authenticate all professionals involved in building construction in the state,” he added.

Dr. Babatunde also noted that buildings under construction that have been abandoned for an extended period need to be re-certified before construction can resume, to ensure the structural stability of the projects.

Additionally, Dr. Babatunde issued new directives, including that no one should sleep in buildings undergoing construction, construction work should not extend beyond 7:00 pm daily, and there should be no construction work on Sundays.

He called on property owners and developers to revalidate all Letters of Authorisation for building construction issued to them and emphasized the importance of engaging relevant professionals in their building projects.