Lagos seals over 20 Ikeja properties for planning violations

Lagos State Government has sealed more than 20 properties in Ikeja Local Government Area for allegedly breaching the state’s physical planning regulations.

The enforcement operation, carried out by the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority, LASPPPA, forms part of ongoing efforts to tackle illegal developments and ensure adherence to approved planning standards.

The affected structures include vacant plots, unfinished buildings, and properties with unauthorised structural extensions, according to a statement posted by the state government on its official Facebook page on Friday.

The exercise was led by the Permanent Secretary, Office of Physical Planning, Olayinka Wasiu, alongside the General Manager of LASPPPA, Kehinde Osinaike, and other senior officials of the agency.

The government said the operation aligns with its broader campaign to regulate physical development and safeguard land designated for public infrastructure across the state.

It also highlighted the ongoing statewide documentation exercise under the Setbacks, Common Areas and Roadsides Administration and Monitoring Project, SCRAMP, which seeks to identify and document informal public spaces while addressing their illegal occupation, unauthorised conversion and misuse. According to the government, such activities undermine approved development plans and the overall urban landscape.

Speaking during the enforcement exercise, Wasiu said the operation was intended to prevent building collapses, encourage orderly urban development and ensure compliance with the Lagos State Physical Planning Law.

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting lives and property through strict enforcement of planning regulations aimed at creating a safe, sustainable and resilient built environment.

Wasiu disclosed that contravention notices had earlier been issued to the affected property owners, informing them of the measures required to regularise their developments before enforcement commenced.

He advised developers and property owners to obtain the necessary planning permits and statutory approvals before embarking on any construction project or structural modification.

The permanent secretary added that the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, through LASPPPA, would continue to strengthen monitoring and enforcement activities across Lagos to curb illegal developments.

He also assured residents who comply with the law that the authority would remain committed to enforcing planning regulations in order to maintain an organised, aesthetically pleasing and legally compliant physical environment throughout the state.