The Ogun State Government has reaffirmed that its physical planning laws and regulations are designed to promote orderly urban development and regulate land use in the interest of the public, not to victimise law-abiding citizens.
Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, TPL Tunji Odunlami, made this clarification on Monday during a press conference at the Olusegun Osoba Press Centre, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
Odunlami explained that the ongoing enforcement exercise in Sagamu and Ijebu-Ode local government areas is focused on verifying the permit status of various developments — including houses, schools, hospitals, and commercial buildings — to ensure compliance with building laws.
According to him, property owners in the affected areas had been duly served notices to present relevant documentation to the Ogun State Planning and Development Permit Authority, an agency under his ministry, for verification in line with existing regulations.
“This is a daily routine and ongoing activity of the agency, devoid of witch-hunting and not intended to harm anyone’s interests,” Odunlami stressed. “It is a transparent process widely practiced in other states in Nigeria and across the world. We have carried out the same exercise in Abeokuta without incident, and it will soon be extended to Ota and Ilaro, including Government Reserved Areas.”
He added that any property owner served with a notice simply needs to visit the issuing office with their permit and supporting documents for verification.
“As we speak, Otunba Gbenga Daniel has yet to do so or send any representative,” the commissioner stated. “Whenever the state issues enforcement notices, genuine developers respond by justifying their projects or applying for necessary plan adjustments and ratifications.”
Odunlami emphasised that the government enforces physical planning laws daily across the state strictly in accordance with the law and the public good, without consideration for the identity of developers. The notices recently issued in Sagamu and Ijebu-Ode, he said, are part of several enforcement actions taken in the past month.
He further clarified that the State Physical Planning Law applies to all developments, including those predating the law’s enactment. Citing Section 73 of the law, Odunlami noted that enforcement notices may be issued for any unauthorised development, renovation, alteration, repair, addition, or violation, regardless of when the breach occurred.
The commissioner reiterated the government’s commitment to consistent and impartial enforcement, urging property owners to comply with legal requirements to support the state’s urban development agenda.
