The Lagos State Government has cut the minimum land size required for estate development from 10,000 square metres to 5,000 square metres.

Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, announced the policy shift during the ministry’s maiden Quarterly Media Parley held at its Alausa conference room.

He explained that the decision aligns with current realities in Lagos, where rapid population growth and urbanisation are driving up demand for housing and estate projects.

He said, “Some of the promoters of the 176 non-complying estates, published in August, had come forward to seek assistance on how to regularise the status of their estates.”

He added that the ministry would soon begin enforcing the new policy on developers who fail to comply.

“Enforcement will commence soon on those in the list of 176 non-complying estates that have not come forward for regularisation,” he stated.

The Commissioner noted that plans were already underway to extend the regulatory exercise to other parts of the state, including Ikorodu and Ikeja. He also revealed that the ministry would soon outline specific requirements for communities that had been unilaterally converted into estates.

He stressed the importance of Lagos State’s Operative Development Plans to its growth, noting that projects such as the Blue and Red Rail Lines, flyovers, and major highways were all integrated into these plans.

“The state government has also completed the Alimosho Model City Plan, the Kosofe Model City Plan, the Lagos Island Model City Plan, and the Badagry Master Plan. I urge all agencies of government and other stakeholders to abide by the dictates of these plans, which we produced with the involvement of all stakeholders,” he explained.

Olumide pointed out the ministry’s proactive steps in building capacity to set requirements for specialised projects such as seaports, airports, and special highways.

He also noted that the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Agency had exceeded expectations in its core mandate of issuing planning permits.

“The planning permit process is straightforward, and applicants can obtain their approvals within 10 days of making payments, as the process is now aided by the creation of more district offices, staff motivation and awareness creation, while the government will soon automate the process.

“The Lagos State Government’s plan for the transformation of informal spaces across the state, stating that the government was actively working to reclaim, redesign, and put to productive use a variety of underutilised and neglected spaces, particularly along power-line and gas-line corridors as well as drainage setbacks.

“Over 3,000 hectares of land have been identified in Lagos for this purpose. Areas often used informally and without proper planning are now being mapped out for structured developments such as parking zones to ease traffic congestion in high-density areas in the state,” he added.