Beach Front Garden, Cowries Estate, Ikoyi Adams Estate – List of 176 estates declared illegal in Lagos

The Lagos State Government has declared 176 estates illegal for failing to obtain mandatory layout approvals from the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.

The estates are predominantly located in the Eti-Osa, Ajah, Ibeju-Lekki, and Epe areas.

The state has also handed the concerned parties a 21-day ultimatum to process their layout approvals.

This was disclosed by the Permanent Secretary of the Office of Physical Planning, Oluwole Sotire, on Monday.

According to Sotire, the permanent secretary of the Office of Physical Planning, the estates are deemed illegal due to failure to obtain layout approvals from the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.

He said the estates compromised the sustainable development agenda of the Lagos State government.

Sotire said the owners of the estates have been allotted a window to submit the necessary documents to his office for processing.

He said this exercise is a routine function of the ministry, adding that it is in line with its mandate to regulate the development of public and private estates in Lagos.

What Is Layout Approval?

Layout approval — also known as a building or planning permit—is an official authorisation issued by the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) that confirms that a construction project follows the state’s planning, zoning, and safety regulations.

Without this approval, any construction is considered unauthorized or illegal.

According to LASPPPA, the processing of layout approvals takes about 28 days after the required documents are submitted and payment is made.