LASG extends amnesty for existing buildings without planning permits

Nike Popoola

The Lagos State Government has extended by three months the provision of amnesty for owners and developers of existing buildings without Planning Approvals in the State.

The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, made this known in his office in Alausa on Wednesday.

According to a statement issued by the Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Mukaila Sanusi, the commissioner said that considering the high rate of applications since the beginning of the amnesty programme, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, had approved the extension of the programme by another three months, starting from 1st of August to the end of October 2024, to allow more people to benefit from it.

The Lagos State Government had in April announced the provision of an amnesty period of 90 days, from 2nd May to 30th July 2024 to allow owners and developers of existing developments obtain Planning Permits without payment of statutory penal fees, which erecting buildings without Approvals would have attracted.

In addition to the waiver of penal fees, the programme also comes with a discount for payments completed within ten working days during the amnesty period.

To access the amnesty programme, an applicant is expected to submit the following documents for assessment, through District Offices of the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) in the 57 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas of Lagos State, and the Electronic Planning Permit (EPP) office at the LASPPPA Headquarters, Oba Akinjobi Way, G.R.A ikeja:title document or proof of ownership.

They are survey plan;As-built architectural drawings and;

structural, electrical, and mechanical drawings (where applicable).

Other documents to be submitted for assessment are Non-Destructive Integrity Test Report (where applicable); Letter of structural stability and indemnity (where applicable); Land Use Planning Analysis Report, evidence of tax compliance, and other supporting documents, where applicable.

Governor Sanwo-Olu Administration instituted the amnesty programme to cushion the effect of the current economic hardship on the built environment sector and equally enhance compliance to Physical Planning regulations to guarantee a livable, organised, orderly and sustainable built environment.