Real estate developers in Lagos, under the aegis of the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), have condemned the move by the State government to strictly enforce planning regulations and seal off 176 estates that had allegedly flouted approval requirements.
REDAN stated this on Friday, in reaction to a comment by the Director, Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Mukaila Sanusi, that the State Government would take action at the expiration of the 21 days given to developers to perfect the estates’ documentation.
REDAN President, Mr. Akintoye Adeoye, told THISDAY, that labelling the estates “illegal” portrayed the Lagos State property market as toxic.
“It sends shock waves and fear to the investing community, particularly those in the diaspora. I want to caution government representatives to choose their words carefully while sending messages to the public.
“In the future, the government must deepen the culture of transparency in their services. There are trust and confidence issues to be addressed.
“Excessive requirements for planning approvals and exorbitant rates must be looked into. REDAN is engaging with the government on the challenges of developers in this matter,” he added.
Last week, the Lagos State Government had identified 176 estates, it said were built illegally, predominantly located in the Eti-Osa, Ajah, Ibeju-Lekki, and Epe axis of the state, and gave their owners a 21-day ultimatum to process their layout approvals.
The estates, deemed illegal due to their failure to obtain layout approvals from the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, were listed in a document published by the Ministry on Monday.
However, responding to a THISDAY question on how the estate developers built without getting approval, and if it was a case of regulatory failure, Sanusi said, “It is part of the pervasive disregard for regulation in the country. However, that some of them have built does not make it right. Government must act in the interest of a livable, organised and sustainable physical environment.”
He advised people who intend to buy property in Lagos to do proper checks before making payment.
According to him, “People should ask for the Layout Plan Approval of the estate. Planning Permit. They can check with the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development for verification.”
A statement issued by the Director, Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mukaila Sanusi, had quoted the Permanent Secretary, Office of Physical Planning, Engr. Oluwole Sotire, to have said “the illegal estates compromised the sustainable development ethos and the T.H.E.M.E.S+ Agenda of the Lagos State Government by operating without approved layouts. The identified illegal estates include Adron Homes, Elerangbe; Aina Gold Estate, Okun-Folu; Diamond Estate, Eputu; Prime Water View Garden, Ikate Elegushi; and Royal View Estate, Ikota, among others.”
The Permanent Secretary had given the owners of these estates 21 days to submit the necessary documents to his office in the Ministry of Planning and Urban Development, Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, to process their layout approvals.
He stated that this exercise was a routine function of the Ministry, in line with its mandate to regulate the development of public and private estates in Lagos State by processing and granting layout approvals to foster a functional, organised, orderly, and resilient smart city, as encapsulated in the T.H.E.M.E.S+ Agenda of the Lagos State Government.
He also emphasised the importance of all developers and real estate practitioners registering with the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (LASRERA), which is responsible for regulating, coordinating, and monitoring real estate practitioners in the sector.
Bennett Oghifo
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