Lagos Slashes Minimum Land Size for Estate Development to 5,000sqm

The Lagos State Government has cut the minimum land size required for estate development from 10,000 square metres to 5,000 square metres.

Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, announced the policy shift during the ministry’s maiden Quarterly Media Parley at Alausa.

According to him, the adjustment reflects current realities in Lagos, where rapid population growth and urbanisation are driving higher demand for housing.

“Some of the promoters of the 176 non-complying estates published in August have already approached us to regularise their status. Enforcement will soon begin on those that fail to do so,” Olumide said.

The commissioner revealed that the compliance drive would soon extend to other parts of the state, including Ikorodu and Ikeja. He also noted that communities converted into estates without approval would now face clear regulatory requirements.

Highlighting the importance of development plans to Lagos’ growth, Olumide stressed that major projects such as the Blue and Red Rail lines, highways and flyovers were aligned with the state’s operative city plans.

He listed some of the completed plans as the Alimosho Model City Plan, Kosofe Model City Plan, Lagos Island Model City Plan, and the Badagry Master Plan.

On planning approvals, Olumide assured that the process was now more efficient.

“Planning permits can be obtained within 10 days of payment. This has been made possible through additional district offices, better staff motivation, awareness drives, and soon-to-be-automated systems,” he explained.

The commissioner also disclosed that the state was working to reclaim and redesign informal and underutilised spaces, particularly along power-line and gas-line corridors as well as drainage setbacks.

So far, over 3,000 hectares of such land have been identified for structured projects such as parking zones to ease congestion in high-density areas.