The Lagos State Government has reiterated the need for those in the real estate sector and other residents to always verify the status of every land in the metropolis before committing their hard-earned investments to it.
It insists that lands duly registered at the Lands Bureau are those with proper documentation and titles that should be considered for investments to avoid any future crisis with the government.
The State Head of Service, Mr Olabode Agoro, handed down this advice in his remarks at the closing of the 4th Lagos Real Estate Market Place and Exhibition held in the Victoria Island area of the state.
He said that people run into trouble in the state when seeking to acquire lands due to failure to follow due process in seeking approval from the appropriate authorities.
According to him, “Anyone who obtains planning information from the Ministry of Physical Planning and ensures proper titles to the land will be spared from any issues with the government. Every building must conform to the state’s plan, while Environmental Impact Assessment must be considered at all times.”
The Lagos number one civil servant solicited the full cooperation of all in ensuring that developers who sell lands in prohibited areas like drainage channels or wetlands to innocent investors are arrested and prosecuted.
Olabode Agoro disclosed that the state is battling with proper planning for thousands of people who migrate into Lagos on a daily basis in search of greener pastures.
He explained that this has left the state with high pressure on lands for the construction of houses and other facilities to reduce the deficit.
“Lagos State Government is doing its utmost best, but it is very disheartening that some illegal developers are carrying out activities to undermine the physical planning of the state,” he added.
On his part, the General Manager of the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency, Solebo Adebayo, said residents should not suffer in silence, adding that they are ready to assist those who have been defrauded in different ways.
He said that the agency had recovered over ₦400,000,000 for residents defrauded in the state in different sectors.
The GM of LASCOPA warned residents and investors in the real estate sector to be wary of attractive but fraudulent promos from the real estate sector during the end of the year seasons.
In his submission during one of the panels, Mr Olatunbosun Alake, who is the state Commissioner for Innovation, Science, and Technology, said the ministry provides technical support to others whenever the need arises.
He also urged stakeholders in the real estate industry to lobby their legislators towards sponsoring bills that will address emerging challenges confronting the sector.
Some of the panels during the closing of the two-day event, which attracted over 5,000 participants in the real estate and built industry, focused on adhering to building approvals, permits, land use planning, and protecting the rights of consumers and victims under the law.
