The Lagos State government has urged property owners and developers seeking planning permit to perfect their applications to avoid delays, saying that the process is seamless.
The state also said it has devolved power to grant planning permit to supervisory and district officers to avoid the unnecessary queue at the ministry level at Alausa.
The state commissioner for physical planning and urban development, Idris Salako, who stated this during a session with journalists in Lagos and response to public complaints on long delay in securing permit approval, averred that except for those that would like to cut corners, the requirements for planning permit were clearly stated in the state physical planning laws meant to regulate the built environment and give room to seamless development of the state.
“Oftentimes, the delay does not come from the government but the failure of developers to perfect their documents or get the necessary sign-off from relevant MDAS, where applicable,” he said.
READ ALSO: FG launches verbal, autopsy report to tackle infant, maternal mortality
He explained that while the power to grant planning permit rested solely with the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA), the sign-off of other ministries and agencies such as the ministry of transportation and office of drainage service, was necessary in some situations as development activities within the state revolve around many agencies.
“For example, Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPA) will not issue a permit to any development proposed along drainage alignment or road setbacks without clearance from the Office of Drainage Services and Ministry of Transport respectively” he added.
Other MDAS whose clearances may be required before granting planning permit is the Lagos State Fire Service, the Police, Lands Bureau, Office of the Surveyor-General, Nigerian Railway Corporation, Nigerian Airport Authority, Department of Petroleum Resources, Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Lekki Concession Company, New Towns Development Authority and the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation among others.
According to Salako, to further simplify the planning permit process, the government had implemented some reforms and set service level agreement of 28 days for a processing planning permit.
He said: “As part of the reforms, we have increased the number of supervisory directors and district officers and devolve planning permit approvals down to the level of district officers”
He stated that efforts at streamlining the process had yielded positive results, among which is the fact that the 28day service level agreement had become more and more feasible with applicants getting planning permits within the stipulated time, adding that as at October, 1,726 permits had been granted for the year.
He urged applicants to take advantage of the electronic planning permit platform for ease of application. He also stated that applicants can take advantage of the fast track option for those who wish to quickly deliver on their projects.
Concerning the insinuation of malfeasance in the built environment, he appealed for the cooperation of all in addressing wrongdoings in the sector by reporting through the Lagos State citizens gate and helplines of the ministry -08034698264; 07030653241; 07030627609.
