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By Lukman Olabiyi
For the umpteenth time, the Lagos State Ministry of Housing has reiterated that residents of government-owned housing estates must obtain official approval before installing solar panels or making any external alterations to their apartments.
The directive was restated by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Abdulhafis Toriola, in statement issued by the ministry’s public affairs director, Gani Lawal, following concerns raised on social media by a resident over enforcement actions by the Ministry’s Monitoring and Compliance Team at the Lagos State Millennium Housing Estate.
Toriola clarified that the requirement is not new, noting that it is clearly stated in the Letter of Allocation and Allottees Guide issued to beneficiaries at the point of purchase.
According to him, any modification to allocated flats, including the installation of solar panels must receive prior approval from the Ministry.
He explained that the policy is aimed at protecting shared infrastructure within government estates, including rooftops, walls, and water systems, while also preventing safety hazards such as fire outbreaks linked to poorly installed solar systems.
The Permanent Secretary revealed that the Ministry had, in recent times, intervened in cases involving leaking roofs and fire incidents attributed to substandard solar panel installations by some residents.
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These challenges, he said, prompted the development of stricter guidelines governing such modifications.
Toriola further noted that government housing estates are designed as social housing schemes with interconnected facilities serving multiple households, often accommodating between two and 32 families within a single block.
As a result, unregulated alterations by individual residents could pose risks to the entire structure.
He added that the Ministry’s guidelines cover technical specifications such as cable quality, panel configuration, and the competence of installation personnel.
The regulations are also intended to ensure fair allocation of roof space among residents and reduce disputes when multiple occupants seek to install solar systems.
While emphasizing compliance, the Ministry assured residents that it remains open to feedback and continuous engagement.
It urged all allottees to seek clarification where necessary and adhere to established procedures to promote safety, structural integrity, and peaceful coexistence across state-owned estates.
