By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The duration for processing and securing approval for title documents in Lagos State has been reduced to nine months from two years.
The General Manager of the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA), Mr Kehinde Osinaike, explained that the reduction became necessary to address the rate of non-compliance with the of terms of agreement guiding the presentation of registered statutory title documents for approval as well as the level of abuse by members of the public.
According to him, his agency has observed that over the years, 99 per cent of applicants granted provisional permits based on possession and submission of proof of land ownership, other than registered land titles statutorily stipulated for the procurement of (final building plans), do not return with their title documents to obtain final planning permit approvals.
“Henceforth, the grace period between the time of obtaining provisional building approval, based on the presentation of proof of Land ownership documents, and the presentation of registered statutory documents for final approval has been reduced from two years to nine months,” he declared.
“Apart from the reduction in the processing period, a maximum of three months grace has been approved for all applicants with pending provisional permits that are yet to be finalised, to present their titled documents to LASPPPA and obtain their final approvals within the period or have their provisional permits withdrawn,” he further said.
Mr Osinaike added that applicants with provisional permits that have elapsed the two-year stipulated period are advised to approach LASPPPA District Offices in the area where the building is located with their title documents or the agency’s office on Oba Akinjobi Way, Ikeja.
He urged owners and developers in the state to build responsibly and comply with the new notice, stressing that the state government appreciates voluntary, rather than forceful compliance.
