DIPLOMAN TIMES

The Lagos State Government is advancing the Electronic Physical Planning Processing System as a digital mechanism for streamlining development-permit applications, improving transparency and accountability, and strengthening the formal planning framework that supports property value and orderly urban development.

The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding the use of the Electronic Physical Planning Processing System as a mechanism for improving the development-permit process and strengthening physical planning administration. The initiative was discussed at a stakeholders' engagement at The Stable, Union Bank Sports Club, Surulere. According to the Lagos State government publication, the system is intended to make permit applications more efficient, transparent and convenient while improving the experience of citizens and other stakeholders from the point of application through permit issuance.

The Permanent Secretary, Office of Physical Planning, represented by the General Manager of the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority, Tpl. Kehinde Osinaike, reiterated the administration's commitment to the digital system. He said EPPPS had reduced unnecessary physical interactions and enhanced accountability within the planning-permit process. The shift toward digital processing is consequently being positioned as an administrative reform that can reduce procedural friction while creating a more traceable pathway for applications and related documentation.

The system also has implications for property development and the formalisation of construction activity. The Executive Chairman of Surulere Local Government, Hon. Bamidele Yusuf, acknowledged the launch of the application and highlighted its potential to improve access, privacy and collaboration between the public and government agencies. He also linked development permits to property value and loan eligibility, while warning that construction without the required permits can lead to serious consequences. The planning system therefore operates not simply as an application platform but as part of the regulatory framework governing lawful development.

During the stakeholders' engagement, Tpl. Leke Oduwaye said the building approval process, particularly documentation associated with construction, had become less tedious through the introduction of EPPPS. He said building-construction documents were now being managed more effectively and that stakeholders could seek clarification through the interactive engagement process. Building agencies were also commended for their performance, while community representatives were encouraged to relay information about the digital system and its requirements to residents within their communities.

The engagement attracted participants from different districts and generated discussions around the benefits and operation of the digital platform. As of October 7, 2026, Lagos is presenting EPPPS as an established administrative tool for improving development-permit processing, reducing unnecessary physical interaction, strengthening accountability and supporting orderly development. The government has also emphasised stakeholder participation and feedback as important to the system's continued effectiveness, while the formal permit process remains a key component of lawful construction and property development in the state.