The Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) said on Friday that property owners and developers were complying with the 90-day amnesty period offered for building regularisation.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State approved a 90-day amnesty period, effective May 2, for house owners and developers within the state to obtain the requisite building permits for their property.

The general manager of LASPPPA, Kehinde Osinaike, confirmed the compliance at a campaign embarked upon by officials across the state to further educate the public on the need to obtain their building permits.

“I can say that we have witnessed an impressive level of compliance from building owners since the programme started on May 2,” he said.

Mr Osinaike, also a town planner, commended Lagos residents who had approached the authority to regularise their physical planning approvals since the opening of the amnesty window.

“However, so many people who are yet to take advantage of this opportunity can still do that from now until the end of July,” he said.

Mr Osinaike said the amnesty window was to ensure that buildings would be constructed correctly and that necessary fees for physical planning purposes would be paid to the government.

Regarding extending the amnesty window, the general manager said only the state governor had the prerogative to make the review.

According to him, the process is seamless, affordable, and achievable within three months.

Mr Osinaike advised the residents to liaise with district officers of LASPPPA in their respective local government areas and local council development areas for guidance and to avoid touts or any third-party agent.

The general manager listed documents required for processing building approval, which include a title document or proof of ownership, a survey plan, as-built architectural drawings, structural, electrical and mechanical drawings, and a non-destructive integrity test report, where applicable.

He said other documents included a letter of structural stability and indemnity, where applicable, a land use planning analysis report, and other supporting documents, where applicable, including evidence of tax payment.

Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Oluyinka Olumide, acknowledged the tenacity of LASPPPA in ensuring that Lagos residents were fully aware of the amnesty period.

Mr Olumide, represented by Taiwo Fesomu, Director of Administration and Human Resources, Office of Physical Planning, Lagos State, urged the authority not to rest on its oars in ensuring that more house owners and developers would take advantage of the window.

The sensitisation campaign organised by LASPPPA started from its headquarters at GRA, Ikeja, through Ikeja Under Bridge and Obafemi Awolowo Way, to the Alausa Secretariat, Maryland and other parts of the state.

(NAN)