The Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development has sealed 43 structures on Airport Road, including 13 banks and 13 hotels for violating the Physical Planning Law of the State.
Speaking during the sealing of the erring facilities on Wednesday, the Honourable Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako stated that the buildings, most of which are in use, were either built without planning permit or built without conforming to their approval order.
He emphasised that the area, being an international gateway to Lagos State, must not be defaced with illegal developments, stressing that all physical developments on Airport Road and other areas of the State must conform to the planning laws of the government.
“It is by enforcing strict compliance with laws and regulations that we can halt the pervasive incidence of illegal and unapproved buildings, protect the Operative Development Plans of Lagos State and sustain an orderly, organised and livable environment”, he said.
Salako, therefore, urged those buying or renting property to ensure that the planning permits and Certificate of Fitness for habitation are in order to avoid their property being sealed.
The Commissioner averred that the Physical Planning enforcement exercise, which commenced some weeks ago, is aimed at eliminating the menace of illegal buildings and sanitise the built environment in Lagos State.
Other top officials present during the enforcement operations were the Special Adviser to the Governor on Urban Development, Mr. Ganiyu Adele Ayuba; the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Arc. Foluso Adebayo Dipe and operatives of the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA), Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) and Special Operations Team of the Governor’s Office.
Similarly, the State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture has reiterated its call on owners of businesses in the hospitality and tourism sectors to register their establishments with the State Government as provided for under Section 4 of the Lagos State Hotel and Tourism Establishments Licensing Law of 2003.
The Honourable Commissioner in charge of the Ministry, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, made the call in Ikeja following the unimpressive response to previous pleas to owners of Hospitality and Tourism facilities operating in the State by the government.
Akinbile-Yusuf listed the affected facilities to include Hotels, Rest Houses, Restaurants, Lounges, Tourism Promoters, Leisure and Recreation Centres, Boat Operators, Health Clubs & Fitness Centres, Motels, Suites and Fast Foods outlets.
Others, according to her, are Travel Agencies, Amusement Parks, Night Clubs, Guest Houses, Service Apartments, Bars, Tour Operators, Entertainment Facilities & Halls, Adult Night Clubs and Beach Resorts.
She disclosed that the process of providing palliatives for practitioners in the tourism and hospitality industry is presently ongoing, adding that the Ministry can only extend the gesture to registered facilities.
“The position of the Ministry is that the registration of Hospitality and Tourism facilities is backed by law, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture is also using the opportunity of the registration to create a data bank for all facilities for ease of reference and as a way of identifying those that are performing their civic responsibilities”, the Commissioner stated.
Akinbile-Yusuf explained that the data bank being developed by the Ministry will be useful in identifying genuine practitioners in the industry that qualify to benefit from the State Government’s palliatives for the practitioners.
While noting that the registration is free, AkinbiIe-Yusuf implored interested persons to use the current window of opportunity made available by the Ministry to contact Hotel Licensing Directorate, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Block 10, The Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja to register.
