By Nehemiah Anini
The Lagos State Government has declared 176 estates in key developing areas—including Eti-Osa, Epe, Ibeju-Lekki, and Ajah—illegal for failing to comply with the state’s planning and development regulations.
In an exclusive interview with Chronicles Construction News, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Office of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Oluwole Sotire, explained that these estates had not obtained the mandatory layout approvals from the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.
According to Mr. Sotire, developers and estate owners have been given a 48-hour ultimatum to submit the necessary documentation to commence the approval process. This enforcement move, he noted, is part of the state’s strategy to promote orderly development and eliminate unregulated construction activities.
The government also issued a stern warning to residents and prospective property buyers:
“Always verify the approval status of any real estate project before making an investment.”
The list of identified illegal estates cuts across major development corridors, with concentrations in rapidly growing hubs such as Eti-Osa, Epe, Ibeju-Lekki, and Ajah.
The crackdown signals Lagos State’s increasing determination to bring discipline, transparency, and sustainability into its booming real estate sector—while protecting buyers from the risks of unapproved developments.
