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By Maduka Nweke
No permit, no mercy. That is the apt description of Lagos’ property enforcement drive.
The state government has said it is not backing off because there is an urgent need to retrieve the state from illegal developers distorting the master plan.
So, enforcers are relentless, scanning the city and sealing property without approved permits, especially around the Lekki axis and Lagos Island.
The action, carried out through the Office of Physical Planning, follows an earlier move in 2025 when the government identified 176 illegal estate developments, largely in Eti-Osa, Ajah, Ibeju-Lekki and Epe. Affected developers were given a 21-day ultimatum to regularise their layout approvals.
The estates were declared illegal for failing to obtain layout approvals from the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.
The ministry noted that such developments undermine sustainable urban growth and run contrary to the state’s T.H.E.M.E.S Plus Agenda. Among estates previously listed were Adron Homes, Elerangbe; Aina Gold Estate, Okun-Folu; Diamond Estate, Eputu; Prime Water View Garden, Ikate Elegushi; and Royal View Estate, Ikota.
Speaking on the latest enforcement exercise, Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, said the operation, which began on last Wednesday, was led by the Director of Development Matters, Hakeem Animashaun and targeted previously cautioned estates along the Lekki corridor. Although he did not disclose the total number of sealed buildings, Olumide reaffirmed the government’s zero-tolerance stance on unauthorised developments.
He urged developers to secure necessary layout approvals and building permits before commencing construction.
According to him, the Office of Physical Planning is statutorily mandated to ensure that all developments in the state comply with approved planning standards and regulations.
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“We will continue to enforce compliance across the state. Developers must prioritise obtaining layout approvals and building permits to avoid sealing and other penalties,” he said.
Olumide added that the enforcement drive aligns with the state government’s commitment to orderly urban development, protection of infrastructure and sustainable growth, particularly in rapidly expanding areas such as Lekki-Ajah. He stressed that similar operations would be extended to other parts of the state to strengthen compliance and uphold planning standards. Estates visited during the exercise included Victoria Nest, Vistaview Estate, Empire Homes, JadeView Estate, BlessedView Homes and Micrian Villa Estate, among others.
Residents warned to keep estates clean or be sanctioned
The Lagos state government has renewed its warning to occupants of government-owned housing estates, insisting that negligence in structural and sanitary maintenance will no longer be tolerated.
At a two-day Annual Management Retreat of the Ministry of Housing held in Abeokuta, the Commissioner for Housing, Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, said the culture of sustainable estate management must be strengthened to protect public investment and preserve long-term asset value.
He stressed that the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has committed significant resources to delivering quality infrastructure, creating livable communities comparable to global standards, and institutionalising efficient facility management systems. According to him, these achievements represent a legacy that must be safeguarded through responsible occupancy and proactive maintenance.
“The maintenance of State-owned housing estates and entrenching sustainability ethics and practices in infrastructure management remain a top priority for the Lagos State Government to ensure investment in real estate is well protected for maximum value,” he said.
Reinforcing the retreat’s theme, “Enhancing Service Delivery for Sustainable Housing Development and Management,” Akinderu-Fatai added: “Deepening the capacity of the management staff is a strategy to improve operational effectiveness, reinforce leadership efficiency as well as ensure performance-driven engagement.”
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing, Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, charged directors and senior management staff to seize the opportunity to sharpen their expertise. She urged them to convert knowledge gained into measurable improvements in service delivery and estate supervision.
Delivering a goodwill message, Ogun State Commissioner for Urban and Physical Planning, Tunji Odunlami, a former Permanent Secretary in Lagos State’s Ministry of Housing, commended Lagos for its leadership in the built sector. He said Ogun continues to leverage Lagos’ experience and highlighted the need for stronger Public-Private Partnerships, knowledge exchange, and sustained collaboration between both states.
The renewed directive accentuates Lagos’ message that sustainable housing is a shared responsibility and defaulters will be held accountable.
