Lagos Delays Building Permit Amnesty

The Lagos State Government has extended its amnesty program by three months for property owners and developers with buildings that lack planning approvals. Announced by Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, in Ikeja on Wednesday, this extension addresses the high volume of applications received since the program began. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu approved the extension, which will now run from August 1, 2024, to the end of October 2024, allowing more people to take advantage.

Originally launched in April, the amnesty program offered a 90-day period, from May 2 to July 30, 2024, during which owners and developers could secure planning permits without incurring the usual penalties for unauthorized construction. Additionally, the program includes a discount for payments completed within ten working days of the application during the amnesty period.

To benefit from the amnesty program, applicants must submit several documents for review at the district offices of the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority, located in the 57 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas across the state.

Documents should also be submitted to the Electronic Planning Permit Office at the LASPPPA headquarters in Ikeja. Required documentation includes proof of ownership, survey plans, as-built architectural drawings, and, where applicable, structural, electrical, and mechanical drawings.

Additional documents needed for assessment include a non-destructive integrity test report, a letter of structural stability and indemnity, a land use planning analysis report, tax compliance evidence, and other supporting documents as necessary.

This amnesty program, introduced by the current administration, aims to ease the economic burden on the construction sector and promote adherence to physical planning regulations, ensuring a more livable, organized, and sustainable built environment.