Town planners employed by the Lagos State government have pledged to tackle the persistent building approval deficit through better coordination, stronger enforcement, enhanced staffing, and digital planning tools. The commitment was made during the Physical Planning Post-Summit/Management Retreat at Jubilee Chalets, Epe.

Key points from the retreat:

• Deputy Governor Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat emphasized proper land-use planning as essential for economic prosperity, safety, and livability, calling for strict adherence to regulations and balanced development.
• Commissioner for Physical Planning, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, highlighted that the approval deficit is a governance and public safety issue and stressed the need for streamlined, law-compliant, and digitalized processes.
• Permanent Secretary Olumide Sotire announced integration of databases across MDAs, adoption of Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI), the Lagos Land Use Classification System, and enhanced digital platforms to reduce turnaround times.

Challenges identified:

• Inadequate staffing
• Outdated base maps
• Institutional overlaps
• Poor public trust in planning processes

Key resolutions:

• Full operationalization of the Electronic Planning Permit System
• Restoration and modernization of the LPPS Portal
• State-wide adoption of SDI
• Fast-tracking of the Lagos Land Use Classification System with 208 digital codes

Stakeholder engagement: Former commissioners, permanent secretaries, and industry representatives, including REDAN, contributed to ensuring continuity, policy consistency, and long-term planning vision.

The reforms aim to make Lagos more proactive, coordinated, and technology-driven, improving efficiency, reducing bottlenecks, and restoring public confidence in the planning system.