KEY POINTS
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Lagos land policy lowers estate development threshold.
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Lagos Cuts Minimum Estate Land Size to 5,000sqmOver 176 non-complying estates face enforcement.
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More than 3,000 hectares earmarked for structured projects.
The Lagos State Government has trimmed the minimum land size requirement for estate development, cutting it from 10,000 square meters to 5,000 square meters. The move, officials say, reflects the state’s attempt to adapt to current realities where rapid urbanisation and population growth are creating unprecedented demand for housing and planned estates.
Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, disclosed the policy change during the ministry’s maiden Quarterly Media Parley held at its Alausa headquarters. He explained that reducing the threshold would make it easier for more developers to participate in estate projects, while also giving the government firmer ground for regulatory oversight.
Lagos land policy and estate regulation
Olumide pointed out that several developers from the 176 estates flagged as non-compliant earlier this year have already sought help to regularize their status. For those who have not, enforcement is on the way. “Enforcement will commence soon on those in the list of 176 non-complying estates that have not come forward for regularisation,” he warned.
The commissioner also said the regulatory exercise will soon extend beyond central Lagos into the Ikeja and Ikorodu axes, with further plans to issue clear requirements for communities unilaterally converted into estates. According to Punch, he emphasized that the state’s Operative Development Plans remain central to Lagos’s growth strategy, citing landmark projects like the Blue and Red Rail Lines, new flyovers, and major highways that align with these long-term plans.
Lagos land policy linked to growth
Olumide added that the state has already completed several Model City and Master Plans, including those for Alimosho, Kosofe, Lagos Island, and Badagry, all drafted with stakeholder participation. He highlighted efforts to prescribe requirements for specialized projects such as seaports, airports, and highways, while also noting the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Agency has surpassed expectations in approving permits.
According to him, the planning permit process now takes only 10 days after payments, thanks to increased district offices, motivated staff, and wider awareness. Soon, the entire process will be automated.
The commissioner also revealed that Lagos is moving to reclaim and redesign informal and neglected spaces across the state. More than 3,000 hectares have been identified, particularly under power-line and gas-line corridors and drainage setbacks. These spaces, often informally used, are now being earmarked for structured developments such as parking zones to ease congestion in densely populated areas.“This is about transformation,” Olumide said. “We are putting neglected land back to work for the people of Lagos.”
