In a bid to ease the housing crunch and respond to Lagos’ rapid urban growth, the state government has reduced the minimum land size for estate development from 10,000 square metres to 5,000 square metres.

The announcement was made by the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Oluyinka Olumide, during a quarterly media briefing at the ministry’s headquarters in Alausa.

This could be a game-changer for developers. Many mid-sized investors previously edged out of the market by the hefty land size requirement may now find themselves with a way in. “It is in sync with the realities of Lagos,” the Commissioner noted, stressing that the goal is to create room for more housing projects to spring up, even on smaller parcels of land.

Enforcement for non-compliant estates

But the policy shift comes with sharper teeth. Olumide disclosed that of the 176 estates earlier published as non-compliant, some developers have stepped forward to regularise their status, but many have not. “Enforcement will commence soon on those who have refused to comply,” he warned.

The crackdown will not stop there. The Commissioner revealed that enforcement exercises will soon extend to Ikorodu, Ikeja, and other fast-growing parts of the state. Communities that have been informally converted into estates without planning approvals are also on the radar.

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Connecting policy to Lagos’ growth vision

This announcement is not happening in isolation. Lagos is currently implementing a series of development blueprints designed to shape the city’s growth. Olumide pointed to the Operative Development Plans of Lagos State, linking them directly to large-scale projects such as the Blue and Red Rail lines, new highways, and flyovers.

The state has also completed several model city plans, including those for Alimosho, Kosofe, Lagos Island, and Badagry. These documents, drawn up with stakeholder input, are meant to serve as guides for development.

However, on top of the size of the land, the ministry is making an effort to make the planning approvals easier. Olumide said the improved capacity of staff to digitise the process and the fact that more district offices have allowed developers to get permits within 10 days after payment.

The ministry is also preparing regulations for specialised projects like seaports, airports, and highways, ensuring that major infrastructure aligns with the city’s long-term plans.

Interestingly, the conversation did not end with estates and permits. Olumide explained that the government is reclaiming and redesigning neglected or misused land across Lagos. Over 3,000 hectares have already been identified, particularly along power-line corridors, gas-line corridors, and drainage setbacks.

Instead of leaving these areas idle or allowing informal use, the state intends to convert them into structured projects such as parking zones to ease congestion in high-density districts.

What this means for business

The change in the land requirement to smaller areas creates new opportunities for investors, developers, and the rest of the property market. It also reduces the threshold of entry to the estate projects and has the potential to trigger more developments in previously off-radar areas. But, as the government will be tightening the compliance and enforcement, there is no longer the option of cutting corners.

Lagos is signaling flexibility to encourage growth, and firmness to ensure order. For a city chasing both housing and infrastructure goals, that balance may be the only way forward.

Anita Chinedu