The Lagos State Government has torn down 17 illegal structures and sealed 52 others across the state for breaching building regulations and planning codes. Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, announced the enforcement actions on Friday during a press briefing marking Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu's seventh year in office.
Olumide said the demolitions and sealing followed complaints and property disputes the ministry had received from the public. The Technical Services Department handled 987 petitions in the review period, resolving 399 through mediation and enforcement, while 519 cases remained under investigation. The enforcement drive aimed to restore order in the built environment and strengthen public confidence in the government's ability to regulate development across Lagos.
Beyond tearing down structures, Olumide said the ministry had reduced litigation and minimised enforcement conflicts through its interventions. The government also completed three major planning documents during the period: the Lagos Island Model City Plan, Ibeju-Lekki Model City Plan and the Revised Badagry Master Plan. These documents will guide infrastructure development, land-use management and sustainable urban growth across the state.
The ministry intensified monitoring activities in housing estates and emerging communities, inspecting 205 estates to ensure they complied with approved layout plans and development standards. Olumide said the government published details of 176 illegal estates operating without layout plan approvals, warning prospective buyers to verify planning approvals before spending money on property. The warning came as the ministry worked to protect residents from fraudulent property schemes.
Between June 2025 and March 2026, the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority received 21,603 planning permit applications and approved 17,279 of them. A 60-day amnesty programme between October and December 2025 boosted compliance, attracting 7,198 permit applications with 4,113 approvals. The programme gave property owners a window to regularise their developments without facing enforcement action.
The ministry also launched the Electronic Physical Planning Permit Processing System, allowing applicants to process planning permits online from anywhere. The system improved transparency, efficiency and ease of doing business, Olumide said. The government plans to continue enforcement actions against illegal structures and monitor compliance across the state's estates and communities.
