The Lagos State Government has issued demand notices to holders of expired provisional planning permits to submit applications for final planning permits.

The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako, told journalists in his office on Tuesday that the provisional permits issued by the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority, pending the procurement of registered title from Lands Bureau, had since expired as it was valid for only 18 months.

A statement by the Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mukaila Sanusi, further noted that all expired permits were no longer valid and should be deemed illegal, regardless of the status of the construction level of the building involved.

The statement read in part, “So far, the Lagos State Government has made public the list of over 500 expired provisional permits and has promised a more updated version in a soon-to-be published updated list.

Property owners and developers in possession of expired provisional permits are enjoined to process the application for their final permits within one month as expired provisional permits are no longer considered valid for building construction in the State.

Salako warned that the ministry and its agencies would, in line with the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law 2019 as amended, commence necessary enforcement actions against properties with expired provisional permits after the one-month ultimatum.

Planning permission or developmental approval refers to the approval needed for construction or expansion, and sometimes for demolition, in some jurisdictions. It is usually given in the form of a building permit. House building permits, for example, are subject to Building codes.