Open Letter to Honourable Commissioner, Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning & Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Abiodun Olumide.

Dear Sir,
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I write with a deep sense of humility and recognition of the good work your office keeps doing to improve Lagos’ real estate, housing, and urban development landscape since you assumed office.

Over time, I have personally had direct interactions with the Ministry—enough to see firsthand how much effort is invested to ensure compliance, safety, and regulation in the construction and building space. And recently, adding real estate practices to that mix.

For context, I have handled projects executed in full compliance with planning laws and, admittedly, a few others in partial compliance (not my proudest moment). In fact, on one occasion, I was arrested… and it took the kind consideration of the enforcement team not to take me along to Alausa. An embarrassing moment (covers face)… but a lesson well learned.

My point is I know and have seen enough to acknowledge that the Ministry works full-time to maintain sanity within the built environment.

That said, however, despite all these commendable efforts—and despite heavy investments in enforcement—compliance remains poor across the state. This is not unique to Lagos, but since Lagos is already a role model for other states, I believe Lagos can set a new pace for how increased compliance is achieved as well.

This perspective comes from my current work. I lead a community-driven housing mission to create affordable housing that meets people where they are, without compromising quality of life. This work brings me close to residents at the grassroots, exposing me to the everyday realities of coping with housing costs, navigating planning regulations, and the general public’s perception of the government’s role and responsibility.

From this vantage point, may I humbly propose two (out of many) recommendations that I believe could significantly improve compliance with physical planning regulations while strengthening synergy between the Ministry and stakeholders?

This proposal comes from a deep desire for a positive change: to see things work, especially urban design, physical planning, and dignifying housing.

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1. Education Before Enforcement

Growing up, I had moderate exposure to local radio. And now, 20–25 years later, I can still recall/sing/recite jingles from USAID, UNDP, SUBEB et.c… that shaped my awareness about their causes. Those agencies simply leveraged local media, and it worked.

The power of intentional sensitization cannot be overstated.

I believe the ministry can achieve better results by prioritizing grassroots education before enforcement. The COVID-19 pandemic proved that when the government (and its ‘interaction channels’) prioritize sensitization, the message penetrates. And we can do it again.

Some opportunities to consider include:

• Using radio and TV to reach people in local languages.
• Leveraging celebrities and public figures for public campaigns.
• Holding town-hall meetings with resident/landlord associations.
• Producing explainer videos/infographics for easy social media sharing.

The goal is to make the public familiar with planning statutes: zoning, setbacks, parking, density, approval processes, levies, and dues, et.c, so that ignorance will no longer be an excuse.

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2. Making Compliance Easy

While many stakeholders in AEC, housing, and real estate are innovating—whether in design strategies, financing (co-ownership, rent-to-own, micro-mortgages), or construction (prefab, local materials, faster build cycles)—government processes haven't caught up.

Approval fees keep rising. Bureaucracy remains heavy. Low-cost (state-sponsored) housing remains priced beyond the reach of ordinary people. And for most owners of the “80% informal housing,” the reality is to build first before thinking about compliance.

I dare say that (almost) no middle-class homeowner, in today’s economy, will save ₦1m just to hand over for approvals, rather than begin their foundation. The system, as it is, pushes people to bypass compliance.

While other stakeholders are actively creating solutions to meet the people where they are (financially, economically, and socially), I respectfully suggest the Ministry innovate by making compliance convenient and accessible.

The ministry, through its subsidiaries, can:

• Introduce flexible or instalment payment plans for planning/approval fees.
• Consider a build-first-pay-after-construction policy to facilitate and encourage readiness of middle-income owners to comply—to drive increased documentation and identification, which, in the long run, will make it easier (& cheaper) to collect revenue.
• Streamline and digitize approval processes to reduce bottlenecks. (more robust than it's currently implemented)
• Restructure public-facing units/departments for improved customer engagement.
• Make approval processes case-responsive and income-based, instead of the one-size-fits-all approach.

True sustainable housing is not only about subsidies or cheaper homes. It is about dismantling the invisible costs that keep everyday people locked out of the system.

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In Conclusion

‍There's more to say, but I am confident that by combining these proposals, the hurdle of poor/low compliance will be overcome. And I believe we wouldn't need a “USAID” (kind of) budget to achieve these.

Other stakeholders have taken bold steps. It is time “government” does the same. Let's prioritize education before enforcement and make compliance a no-brainer for residents, and the Ministry (and Lagos) will be set on a new trajectory.

One that other states will, again, look up to as a model.

Dear Honourable Commissioner, Sir, thank you for your time and your kind consideration on this matter.

Respectfully,

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