In its bid to maintain orderly and sustainable development across the metropolis, the Lagos State Government will suspend further development of housing estates without the requisite Layout Approval in the area designated as Sapata Village Excision, near the Victoria Garden City (VGC), Lekki.

The Honourable Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako, who made this known in Alausa on Wednesday, while receiving situation report on the area added that in a bid to take advantage of the Regional Road project, developers had embarked on rapid indiscriminate development of estates in contravention of the State’s planning laws.

His words: “I have said repeatedly that we must halt the ugly situation in which planning had to chase development as against the opposite. As a result, developments around this corridor must be controlled to prevent another slum from springing up in the State, as any unplanned development in the area will ultimately negate the expected benefits of the regional road”.

Salako disclosed that Estates within Sapata Village Excision, to the right of Harris Drive, from VGC junction down to the Lagoon must, as a matter of urgency, come forward with their Approvals, including Layout, Planning Permit and Stage Certificates or make immediate recourse to the appropriate Government Agencies for same, otherwise, no further development would be allowed in such estates.

Noting that all hands must be on deck towards achieving an orderly, organised, livable and sustainable physical environment as envisioned by the development agenda of Lagos State, the Commissioner reiterated that prospective landed property buyers and off-takers should be wary of Estates or property without Approvals, in order to protect their investment.

“It is important that prospective property buyers and off-takers demand for the necessary Layout Approvals, Planning Permit and evidence of Stage Certification for the concerned property before committing their hard earned resources”, he emphasised.