Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) has decried the low compliance with planning permits in the state. The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Olumide Oluyinka, stated this at a press conference to announce its 2025 Stakeholders’ Engagement with the theme “Planning Permit: The Rebirth”.

Oluyinka emphasised the importance of continuous engagement with stakeholders, noting that the state is still below the expected average mark in compliance with planning permit regulations.

He described the conference as a strategic approach to addressing challenges in urban development, stressing the need for awareness and education from the grassroots level.

While highlighting the need for civic education on town planning from an early age, the commissioner, “our children ought to know the importance of planning permits,” he said.

He recalled that a debate was held on Tuesday, September 23, as part of the conference lead-up, announcing that an enlarged stakeholders’ engagement is scheduled for Friday, aiming to reach a wider audience and ensure more comprehensive awareness.

The commissioner further lamented that many market women and small business owners remain unaware of the legal requirements for planning permits.

He explained that obtaining permits not only provides the government with proper building records but also plays a crucial role in expansion planning, safety monitoring, and emergency access, drawing allusions to instances where law enforcement needed to access buildings during hostage situations depicted in western films.

On taxation, Oluyinka commended the Federal Government’s ongoing tax reforms and disclosed that LASPPPA has simplified its system, enabling applicants to pay outstanding taxes at the point of requesting a permit. He assured that building approvals are now issued within 10 days.