The Ogun State Government has announced the approval and rollout of new planning regulations and the State Building and Construction Code 2025, describing the development as a major milestone in its urban development journey.

The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, TPl. Olatunji Odunlami, who disclosed this on Tuesday, at a press conference, held at the Ministry’s Conference Room, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, to sensitise stakeholders and the general public on the newly approved code and regulations, said the new instruments would strengthen planning processes and promote safe, orderly, and sustainable development across the state.

He noted that since assuming office in 2019, the Ministry had undergone significant restructuring, transitioning from a single ministry and agency into a more robust system comprising one ministry and three specialised agencies to better manage physical planning and development.

Odunlami explained that the restructuring, backed by legislative approval, led to the establishment of a comprehensive legal framework, including the Ogun State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law 2022 and five key regulations guiding planning permits, slum regeneration, building production management, outdoor physical furniture, and land subdivision.

He revealed that the newly approved 2025 editions of these regulations, alongside the Ogun State Building and Construction Code 2025, position Ogun as a pioneer in Nigeria, adding that the building code, derived from the National Building Code, is the first of its kind to be adopted at the state level, reinforcing Ogun State’s leadership in physical planning reforms.

Odunlami attributed the need for updated regulations to the rapid urbanisation and economic growth witnessed in the state in recent years, describing the state as Nigeria’s fastest-growing subnational economy and industrial hub, driven by deliberate policies of Governor Dapo Abiodun aimed at attracting investments, improving infrastructure, and enhancing ease of doing business.

He emphasised that compliance with the new regulations is mandatory for all stakeholders, including landowners, developers, builders, and professionals in the built environment. While assuring the public of improved service delivery, he disclosed that the ministry has introduced an electronic planning (e-planning) platform in six pilot zones, enabling residents to process planning permits online.

The Commissioner also raised concerns over persistent encroachment on road setbacks across the state, describing it as a major threat to safety, environmental quality, and urban aesthetics.