The Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Oluyinka Olumide, saying that 80 percent of buildings in Ibeju Lekki have no approval is an admission of failure on the part of the ministry.

Development Diaries reports that there has been ongoing demolition of buildings and estates in the state recently, which has left a lot of persons homeless.

The most recent was the demolition of structures by the Lagos State government at the Arowojobe and Mende estates in Maryland. The state government said the exercise was meant to reclaim the right of way of the Odo-Iya Alaro channel.

But the commissioner’s statement highlights a significant challenge in urban development and shows that there is no effective governance and regulatory enforcement to ensure compliance with due process.

It also reflects systemic challenges within the Lagos State Ministry for Physical Planning and Urban Development, which is in charge of organising, formulating, and carrying out the state’s policies related to physical planning and urban development.

Hence, if the commissioner says 80 percent of buildings in Ibeju Lekki have no approval, it suggests failure on the part of the ministry, as the ministry supervises the regulation of building approvals and construction activities in Lekki, a prominent area in Lagos.

This failure could be attributed to factors such as corruption, inadequate resources, or inefficiencies within the ministry, revealing the need for improved accountability and governance therein.

The concerned agencies need to address the underlying factors contributing to laxity in regulatory enforcement and take appropriate measures to strengthen the effectiveness of urban planning and development processes.

Development Diaries calls on the Lagos State Ministry for Physical Planning and Urban Development to work towards addressing these challenges to ensure the safety, sustainability, and legality of urban development in the state.

Photo source: Oluyinka Olumide