Lagos State is accelerating its drive toward becoming a sustainable smart city with sweeping reforms and major achievements in physical planning and urban development under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration.
Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, disclosed this on Wednesday during the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing in Alausa, Ikeja, marking the second year of Governor Sanwo-Olu’s second term.
Highlighting the administration’s progress, Olumide announced the completion and review of key Master and Model City Plans for areas including Ikorodu, Kosofe, Badagry, and Ibeju-Lekki, alongside eight Action Area Plans and nine Development Guide Plans for excised villages.
“We are consolidating our gains and pushing forward with the T.H.E.M.E.S+ agenda to deliver a 21st-century Lagos that is sustainable and well-planned,” Olumide said.
A major milestone was the rollout of a 180-day Amnesty Programme in 2024, which waived penalties for owners of unapproved buildings. The initiative significantly increased planning permit applications and brought more properties into regulatory compliance.
In a move to strengthen collaboration and policy dialogue, the state hosted the maiden edition of the Lagos Physical Planning Summit themed “Rethinking Lagos: A New Vision for a Regional and Integrated Megacity.” The event featured urban planning experts and a keynote address by former Governor Babatunde Fashola.
Efforts to resolve land use conflicts also gained traction, with 70% of complaints settled through mediation, reducing court-related delays. Additionally, 36 estates were inspected for compliance, and 77 layout applications were processed—35 of which received provisional approval.
To support infrastructure development, the ministry delivered the Right of Way for 86 public projects and hired 173 new Town Planning Officers to address manpower gaps.
Olumide reiterated the government’s commitment to participatory planning, saying: “We’re planning with the people, not for them,” and called on Lagosians to embrace the principle of building right to ensure a safe, livable, and resilient city.