By: Tijani Salako.

The Lagos State Government says it recorded more than 22,000 planning permit applications between June 2025 and March 2026 as part of ongoing reforms aimed at improving urban planning administration and strengthening development control across the state.

Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, disclosed this during the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing in Lagos.

According to him, the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority received 14,549 applications between June and December 2025 and another 7,054 applications between January and March 2026.

He stated that thousands of approvals were granted within the period, reflecting growing public compliance with physical planning regulations and permit regularisation initiatives introduced by the government.

Olumide, however, described the figures as still below expectations for a rapidly expanding megacity like Lagos.

“By our records, this is still very low. We should actually be looking at between 40,000 and 50,000 applications yearly,” he said.

The commissioner attributed delays in planning approvals largely to faulty land titles, incomplete tax documentation and poor submissions by some consultants handling development designs.

According to him, several developers fail to obtain adequate planning information before preparing building drawings, leading to repeated corrections and rejection of applications.

He also disclosed that some applicants attempt to process approvals with ownership documents that cannot legally establish title to the land.

“There are people who present only purchase receipts or family agreements as ownership documents. That cannot serve as valid title for approval processing,” he stated.

Olumide further explained that planning applications are sometimes rejected where proposed buildings exceed approved zoning limits or fail to comply with technical planning requirements.

As part of reforms aimed at improving transparency and efficiency, the state government launched the Electronic Physical Planning Permit Processing System to enable applicants process approvals online from any location.

The commissioner said the platform was introduced to reduce physical contact between applicants and officials while improving accountability and ease of doing business.

“If your documents are complete, under 10 working days you can get your approval,” he stated.

He explained that the digital permit system has now been integrated with the building control process, allowing applications to move automatically from permit approval stage to construction monitoring stage.

According to him, no construction site is expected to commence development without approved planning permits and the required authorisation documents.

Olumide also defended planning permit charges, arguing that government requires adequate funding to provide roads, rail projects, drainage systems, water infrastructure and other public utilities needed to support Lagos’ rapidly growing population.

“For a building worth tens of millions of naira, what government charges is still relatively low compared to what obtains in many other countries,” he said.

The commissioner noted that Lagos remains one of the few states in Nigeria consistently reviewing and updating physical development plans to guide orderly growth and infrastructure expansion.

He highlighted the completion of the Lagos Island Model City Plan, Ibeju-Lekki Model City Plan and Revised Badagry Master Plan as part of broader efforts to reposition Lagos as a globally competitive smart city.

Olumide also disclosed that Lagos is collaborating with South-West states on integrated regional planning initiatives, including transportation and rail corridor development projects.