The Lagos State Government has announced plans to take decisive steps to regulate and administer informal spaces across the state in line with its physical planning mandate, as part of efforts to ensure orderly development and sustainable urban growth.
The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Oluyinka Olumide, disclosed this on Wednesday while outlining the ministry’s strategic direction for the coming year. Olumide said the move would involve the full invocation of powers conferred on the ministry by the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law, 2019 (as amended), to address the proliferation of unregulated developments and informal land use across the state.
According to him, the government is determined to bring informal spaces, including unapproved structures and settlements, within the framework of proper planning, stressing that uncoordinated land use poses risks to safety, infrastructure and environmental sustainability.
He noted that regulating informal spaces is critical to improving urban livability, enhancing service delivery and reducing exposure to disasters such as flooding and building collapse.
The commissioner explained that the ministry’s approach would combine enforcement with stakeholder engagement, adding that affected communities would be sensitised on planning regulations and the benefits of compliance.
“We are committed to ensuring that all land use in Lagos aligns with approved plans and standards. This is essential for creating a functional, resilient and inclusive city,” Olumide said.
He also revealed that the ministry would strengthen monitoring and development control activities, deploy technology for planning approvals and improve collaboration with other government agencies to achieve more effective urban management.
Olumide reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to a well-planned Lagos, noting that sustainable physical development remains a key pillar of the administration’s development agenda.
The planned interventions, he added, are expected to curb indiscriminate development, protect public interest and support Lagos’ aspiration to become a globally competitive mega city.
