Lagos introduces digital land reforms and 10-minute building permit system to boost transparency and investor confidence
The Lagos State Government has announced sweeping reforms in land administration, urban renewal, and housing delivery aimed at promoting transparency, cutting red tape, and unlocking new investment opportunities in the real estate sector.
The disclosure was made at the 2025 edition of the Real Estate Discussions and Awards (REDA), organised by Thinkmint Nigeria, where stakeholders in the built environment gathered to deliberate on sustainable solutions for Nigeria’s property market.
Delivering a keynote address, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Enterprise Geographic Information System (E-GIS) and Urban Development, Dr. Olajide Abiodun Babatunde, outlined new digital initiatives to modernise land management and accelerate physical planning approvals.
He revealed that Lagos, in collaboration with international partners, has completed comprehensive digital mapping to support the rollout of the Enterprise Geographic Information System (E-GIS) — a technology-driven platform that will allow instant land searches, online applications, and digital certification of ownership and approvals.
According to him, the government is harmonising multiple inherited land title systems — including Queen’s Titles, Federal, and State Titles — into a single transparent framework to eliminate duplication, enhance security of tenure, and strengthen investor confidence.
Dr. Babatunde also disclosed plans to introduce compulsory insurance for all multi-storey commercial buildings above two floors, alongside a pilot regularization exercise covering 300 properties in Epe.
In a major efficiency boost, he announced that a new electronic planning permit system will soon enable compliant applicants to obtain building approvals within 10 minutes, drastically reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks that have long hampered development processes.
He cautioned developers and land buyers to avoid illegal allocations, forged surveys, and unapproved constructions, noting that the state is conducting a physical planning audit and will sanction erring property owners.
“Governor Sanwo-Olu’s vision is clear — a Lagos where land administration is transparent, digital, and accountable,” Dr. Babatunde stated.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Office of Physical and Urban Development, Engr. Olumide Sotire, stressed the importance of regulation and professional collaboration in managing Lagos’s rapid population growth.
He identified unplanned developments as a major challenge, emphasizing that strict adherence to physical planning laws is essential for sustainable urban expansion.
Engr. Sotire further highlighted key infrastructure projects — including the Lekki Deep Sea Port, Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, Lekki–Epe and Lagos–Badagry Expressway expansions, and mass transit systems — as strategic investments opening up new economic corridors across the state.
He called for increased adoption of green building practices, climate-resilient infrastructure, and smart city innovations, describing sustainability as the backbone of Lagos’s future growth strategy.
From the federal level, the Executive Director of Operations, Family Homes Funds (FHF), Dr. Emeka Henry Inegbum, outlined innovative funding mechanisms being implemented to tackle Nigeria’s housing deficit.
He explained that the FHF is driving affordable housing through four key interventions — the Affordable Housing Fund, Rental Housing Fund, Help-to-Own Programme, and Land and Infrastructure Development Fund — noting that access to finance remains critical to bridging the housing gap nationwide.
In her closing remarks, the Founder and CEO of Thinkmint Nigeria, Mrs. Imelda Usoro-Olaoye, lauded the Lagos State Government for its policy direction and commitment to reform, describing the 2025 REDA edition as a “strategic convergence of innovation, collaboration, and integrity.”
She stated that, “REDA continues to serve as the premier platform where government policies meet private-sector innovation, setting the stage for a sustainable and transparent real estate future.”
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