The Lagos state government has, Thursday, urged property owners and developers in Lekki, Ajah and Eti-Osa environs to comply with the master plan of the area or face statutory enforcement.
The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako, disclosed this on during a stakeholders’ meeting with property owners and developers in Lekki to discuss seamless processing of Planning Permits.
“Owners and developers of property in the area must ensure voluntary compliance with the Master Plan for the area,” Salako stated.
Explaining that being the Operative Development Plan covering the area, the commissioner said it is through compliance that the sanctity of the Revised Ikoyi/Victoria Island Model City Plan and Lekki Comprehensive Master Plan could be guaranteed.
“Please note that the Approval Order of the Plans, as applicable, remain the only valid references for any developmental activity that can be carried out in this area until another review is conducted”, he stressed.
He clearly warned that the deliberate contravention of the Approval Order, Extant Law and Regulations must stop as the ministry would not allow the ugly trend of haphazard and illegal development to continue unabated.
Salako, in clear terms, called for the cessation of illegal dealings concerning the authorisation and documentation of buildings, the related sanction – demolition and prosecution.
Stating his observation, the commissioner reiterated that the underhand deals in respect of building construction include non-adherence to Planning Permit; deliberate falsehood in the design drawings and construction of buildings after submission, prior to the grant of Planning Permit and the mandatory Stage Certification.
“Others are falsification of documents such as Mandatory Statutory Clearances, payment receipts and LIRS Tax Clearance as well as Fake Approvals in connivance with third parties, some of whom are staff of the ministry who are illegally engaged to provide ‘Administrative Protection’ instead of dealing with us directly through our formal channels”, he said.
The commissioner, therefore, enjoined the stakeholders to always comply with all statutory requirements for the construction of their building, including obtaining Planning Permit from the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) and Stage Certification from the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA).
