By Iliya Kure
Lagos State, south-west Nigeria, says it is working hard to reduce the time it takes to process Physical Planning Permits from its present 12 to 13 days, to 10 working days.
“We hope to reduce the turnaround time of processing applications to 10 working days. Already, we are getting the process done within 12-13 working days,” General Manager, Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA), Kehinde Osinaike, said, when the National Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Olutoyin Ayinde, paid a joint courtesy visit to LASPPPA, Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency (LASURA) and Lagos State Planning and Environmental Monitoring Authority (LASPEMA).
According to him, the Agency would further reduce the processing time to enhance previous improvements that have been initiated to make the collection of Physical Planning Permits less cumbersome, less time-consuming and seamless in Lagos State.
Emphasising that the Authority is working assiduously to ensure a reduction in the turnaround time for processing Physical Planning Permits, the General Manager said the step is being taken to entice and encourage Owners & Developers to submit applications for permits in compliance with the law.
Osinaike listed other achievements by the Authority to include the preparation of 30 Action Area Plans to guide physical development in different communities in the State as well as provision of necessary social amenities in such areas.
He also revealed that the Authority has commenced the implementation of the Land Use Planning and Analysis Report (LUPAR) guidelines for assessing Physical Planning Permit applications, as directed by the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Idris Salako, for compliance with the extant Town Planning regulations of 2019, as amended.
In his remarks, the National Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Olutoyin Ayinde, said the visit was part of the Institution’s nationwide visit to all States of the Federation to appraise their level of compliance with Urban Development Laws.
He expressed satisfaction with the level of professionalism by the three State Agencies, LASPPPA, LASURA and LASPEMA, under the supervision of the Lagos State’s Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.
The NITP Chairman, who was accompanied by some other executives of the Institute, however, sought dynamism and synergy among the Agencies in order to meet the evolution and development in Physical Planning practices as well as the expectations of the State Government, especially as it relates to the T.H.E.M.E.S. Development Agenda.