The Lagos State Government has issued a final one-week grace period to estate developers operating without approved layout plans, directing them to regularise their documents or face sanctions.
Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, who led a warning and sensitisation exercise across parts of the Eti-Osa corridor on Tuesday, said the ultimatum followed the expiration of an earlier grace period granted to all flagged estates.
Olumide stressed that the state had repeatedly emphasised the need for estate promoters to obtain proper approvals before embarking on land subdivision, sales, or construction. Despite earlier notices, several developments continued to violate planning regulations, he said.
“The government will no longer tolerate developments that compromise orderly and sustainable urban growth,” the commissioner warned, noting that the one-week extension marked the final opportunity for erring developers to submit their layout plans and secure necessary approvals.
He added that after the deadline, the government would impose sanctions ranging from heavy fines to demolition, depending on the severity of infractions.
The commissioner urged prospective homebuyers to verify the planning status of estates before committing funds, emphasising the importance of due diligence to avoid financial losses. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enforcing planning laws to safeguard the environment and ensure orderly development across the state.
During the exercise, the enforcement team visited several estates, including Whiteoak Estate 2 and Elite Garden Estate, both situated behind Victoria Garden City (VGC).
Earlier, the state government had identified 176 illegal estate developments, mostly in the Eti-Osa, Ajah, Ibeju-Lekki, and Epe axis, and issued their owners a 21-day ultimatum to process layout approvals. These estates were listed in a document published by the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.
Permanent Secretary, Office of Physical Planning, Engr. Oluwole Sotire, said the illegal estates violated sustainable development principles and undermined the T.H.E.M.E.S Plus Agenda of the Lagos State Government by operating without approved layouts. He listed Adron Homes (Elerangbe), Aina Gold Estate (Okun-Folu), Diamond Estate (Eputu), Prime Water View Garden (Ikate Elegushi), and Royal View Estate (Ikota) among the flagged developments.
Sotire reiterated the state’s mandate to regulate both public and private estate development and encouraged all developers and real estate practitioners to register with the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (LASRERA), responsible for coordinating and monitoring activities in the sector.