Building Regulations And Enforcement In Lagos State: Unauthorized Construction Atracts Legal Consequences

Building Regulations And Enforcement In Lagos State: Unauthorized Construction Atracts Legal Consequences

The Lagos State Government has emphasized that those who construct buildings without approval may face prosecution and have their structures removed.

The commissioner, who also assessed the clearing of structures on drainage alignment in Ikota Villa Estate by the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, said the importance of obtaining approval before erecting structures and building in line with the granted approval could not be overemphasised as the planning permit is critical to environmental sustainability and national security.

According to him, no structure is permissible under the powerline, which ought to accommodate only open display of goods and services.

While frowning at the pervasive disregard for physical planning laws across the state, he averred that there would be no sacred cows in the application of the law to the benefit of a liveable and sustainable built environment.

The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Oluyinka Olumide issued the warning during a routine monitoring of the built environment along the Lekki/Ajah corridor on Wednesday.

He urged property owners and developers to obtain planning permits before embarking on construction and keep to the dictates of their approvals to avoid the wrath of the law.

Olumide directed the sealing and partial removal of some contravening structures in different locations within the axis and issued a strong warning to owners/developers of all buildings under the powerline to vacate within two weeks.