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Tpl. KEHINDE OSINAIKE, LASPPPA GM
A few weeks back, Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) General Manager, Tpl Kehinde Osinaike spoke about the development of the agency in the last few years. He revealed some new innovations which will better the operation of the agency.
Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) otherwise known as Planning Permit Authority started from Development Control Department (DCD) under the Ministry of Physical Planning. This department performed the main functions of Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning Board, which was established on 28th April, 1998 by virtue of Lagos State Edict No. 2 of 1998 in line with the Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Law (Decree) No. 88 of 1992. The Board started operation as Lagos State Urban and Regional Board (LASURB) in April 28, 1998 with late R.O. Alaka as the first General Manager.
What does a building permit do?
A Building Permit is an official approval issued by the local government agency that allows you or your contractor to proceed with construction or remodelling project on your property, whether residential or commercial property.
The current General Manager of LASPPPA, Kehinde Osinaike, at a one-day seminar, said: “It is now compulsory to complete the Planning Permit processing within 10 working days for some category of development proposals.
The seminar, ‘Improving the Planning Permit Process for Ease of Doing Business in Lagos State’, was organised in conjunction with the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN).
According to Osinaike, the innovations were introduced because the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration believes in voluntary compliance approach to planning permit.
He said: “It is in fulfillment of government policy that LASPPPA recently introduced series of innovations that made Planning Permit processes attractive, friendly and seamless to the public. One of the innovations is the 10-Day Deal, a policy which makes it compulsory to complete the process of Planning Permit within 10 working days for some category of development proposals. Hitherto, it was 28 days. This excludes encumbrances for non-compliance with tax policy.
“We also created additional District Offices to reduce work load, ensure higher efficiency and bring Approving Offices closer to the people. The number of District Offices moved from 30 to 50 within two years, including the e-pp Office at the headquarters. We are committed to having offices in all the 57 local government areas.
“We also offer free services for planning information. This is to ensure that prospective land buyers first obtain information on status of land before agreeing to the transaction; we grant provisional planning permits on properties with unregistered title with a validity of nine months. This is to allow prospective house owners process title documents and embark on construction simultaneously.
“We grant pilling permit to high-rise buildings once payments are made, to ensure projects are timely delivered, among others.”
Osinaike added that the agency will continue to collaborate with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), professional bodies in the built industry, civil society organisations, community leaders, relevant MDAS on reporting of illegal and non-conforming developments so Lagos can be a safe space for everyone.
The head of research and development in the Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory, Titilayo Lawal, stressed the importance of testing building materials to ensure safer buildings. According to her, ensuring safe building materials could be related to safe and healthy eating.
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