The Lagos State Government has officially outlawed manual processing of building permits, mandating full adoption of its digital approval system in a sweeping reform aimed at improving safety and transparency.
The directive, which took effect on April 1, forms part of the administration of governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to modernise governance and streamline urban planning processes.
Speaking at a press briefing in Alausa, Special Adviser on E-GIS and Urban Development, Olajide Babatunde, said all planning approvals must now be processed exclusively through the Electronic Physical Planning Permit System.
He warned that any individual or organisation engaging in manual processing would be breaking the law.
“The manual processing of physical planning permits has been completely discontinued and outlawed in Lagos State. All applications must now go through the digital platform,” Babatunde said.
According to him, the reform is designed to reduce cases of building collapse, eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks and improve investor confidence in the state’s property sector.
The Electronic Physical Planning Permit System is a web-based platform that digitises approval processes, enhances transparency and accelerates service delivery. The government confirmed that all district offices are now fully equipped, with personnel trained and systems deployed.
Babatunde added that additional reforms include the Certified Accreditor Programme, which introduces private sector participation to strengthen building control and reduce structural failures.
The government has also rolled out new digital tools, including advanced land administration software to manage Certificates of Occupancy and secure land records.
As part of the broader overhaul, Lagos is decentralising land services, with an operational e-GIS centre in Ikeja and new regional offices planned across Lekki, Epe, Badagry and Ikorodu.
Authorities also introduced stricter compliance measures, including compulsory building insurance, mandatory five-year structural certification and enforcement of contractor authorisation on construction sites.
The state government said the reforms mark a shift from manual, paper-based processes to a fully digitised system designed to boost efficiency, accountability and ease of doing business.
