The Lagos State government has declared 176 estates in Eti-Osa, Ajah, Ibeju-Lekki, and Epe illegal over failure to obtain layout approval from the state’s Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.

The ministry, in a statement on Monday, by its director of public affairs, Mukaila Sanusi, gave the owners of the affected estates 21 days to process their layout approvals.

The statement read, “The Lagos State government has identified 176 illegal estate developments, predominantly located in the Eti-Osa, Ajah, Ibeju-Lekki, and Epe axis of the state, and has given them a 21-day ultimatum to process their layout approvals.”

“These estates, deemed illegal due to their failure to obtain layout approvals from the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, were listed in a document published by the ministry on Monday,” Mr Sanusi explained.

Some estates declared illegal include Adron Homes, Elerangbe; Aina Gold Estate, Okun-Folu; Diamond Estate, Eputu; Prime Water View Garden, Ikate Elegushi; and Royal View Estate, Ikota.

He quoted the permanent secretary, Office of Physical Planning, Oluwole Sotire, as saying the illegal estates operating without approved layouts have compromised the sustainable development ethos and the T.H.E.M.E.S+ Agenda of the state government led by Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

“The permanent secretary has given the owners of these estates 21 days to submit the necessary documents to his office in the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, to process their layout approvals,” he advised.

Mr Sotire explained that the exercise was a routine function of the ministry, in line with its mandate to regulate the development of public and private estates by processing and granting layout approvals.

He also reiterated the importance of developers and real estate practitioners registering with the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority, which regulates, coordinates, and monitors real estate practitioners.