Lagos State, undoubtedly Nigeria’s premier economic engine, continues to attract individuals and companies from other regions looking to set up their main offices or branches or even find homes. Consequently, the state faces a huge and continuous demand for land.
The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, at a dinner organised by the Chartered Institute of Directors in 2024, disclosed that a minimum of 6000 people enter the state daily. Out of this number, “only about 3000 go back,” he stated.
Considering Nigeria’s staggering housing deficit, it is understandable why there are many quacks and fraudulent activities in the real estate sector.
According to Mr. Matthew Ottah, the CEO of Omonile Lawyer, “Over ₦5 billion was lost to scammers in Lagos in 2022 because victims did not verify the owner, property, real estate company, or title documents.”
Whatever your real estate plans, ensure that you do your due diligence by contacting the relevant ministry or agency to make the necessary inquiries. This will save you time, money and potential legal issues.
Below are important contact details of ministries and agencies involved in land administration, housing, regulation, and property oversight, along with the names of current officials:
Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development (MPP&UD)
Role: Responsible for urban and regional planning, development control, layout approvals, and ensuring an orderly development in the state. It oversees agencies related to approving planning permits and building control.
Address: Block 16, The Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos
Commissioner: Dr Oluyinka Olumide
Website: https://physicalplanning.lagosstate.gov.ng
Lagos State Ministry of Housing
Role: Affordable housing policy, public housing delivery, housing estate development.
Address: Block L1, The Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.
Commissioner: Hon. Moruf Akinderu-Fatai
Special Adviser on Housing: Barrister Barakat Odunuga-Bakare
Website: https://housing.lagosstate.gov.ng
Lagos State Lands Bureau
Role: Responsible for land administration, land allocation, processing of land titles (such as Certificate of Occupancy and Governor’s Consent), and land information management. It also verifies land ownership and processes transfers.
Address: Ministry of the Environment, Block 13 & 14, The Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.
Permanent Secretary: Mr. Kamar Olowoshago
Website: https://landsbureau.lagosstate.gov.ng
Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (LASRERA)
Role: Regulates real estate transactions and agency fees in Lagos State, licenses real estate practitioners (agents and developers), maintains a register of licensed professionals, and aims to sanitise and promote transparency in the sector.
Address: Block 21, 1st floor, Room 109 & 119, The Secretariat, Alausa Ikeja, Lagos.
Special Adviser on Housing/Head of LASRERA: Barrister Barakat Odunuga-Bakare
Website: https://lasrera.lagosstate.gov.ng
Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA)
Role: Responsible for enforcing building control regulations, issuing building approvals, monitoring construction activities, preventing building collapse, and demolishing illegal structures or distressed buildings.
Address: Oba Akinjobi Way, Old Secretariat, GRA, Ikeja
General Manager: Former GM, Arc. Gbolahan Owodunni Oki
Website: https://lasbca.lagosstate.gov.ng
Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency (LASURA)
Role: Urban regeneration, upgrade of slums, housing renewal in older communities.
Address: Old Secretariat Rd, off Oba Akinjobi Way, Ikeja GRA, Ikeja 101233, Lagos, Nigeria
General Manager: Tpl. Oladimeji Animashaun
Special Adviser to the Governor on EGIS and Urban Development, Dr. Olajide Abiodun Babatunde
Website: https://lasura.lagosstate.gov.ng
Office of the Surveyor-General of Lagos State
Role: Responsible for surveying and mapping the state, beacon verification, coordinates certification, approving survey plans, and maintaining land records to ensure accurate demarcation of land boundaries.
Address: 133 Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja, Lagos
Surveyor-General: (Acting) Surv. Odupe Saliu Olalekan
Website: https://osg.lagosstate.gov.ng
Lagos State New Towns Development Authority (NTDA)
Role: Primarily responsible for the planning, design, and development of new towns and schemes within Lagos State. They allocate plots in their schemes and ensure infrastructure provision.
Address: 4, Folawewo Street, Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos.
General Manager: Tpl. Olakunle John Aboyeji (FNITP)
Website: https://www.ntda.lg.gov.ng/
Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA)
Role: Responsible for issuing planning permits (building plan approvals) for all physical developments in Lagos State, ensuring compliance with physical planning laws and regulations.
Address: Block 20 Old Secretariat Rd, Ikeja GRA, Ikeja 101233, Lagos, Nigeria
General Manager: Tpl. Kehinde Osinaike
Website: http://www.epp.lagosstate.gov.ng/Home/About?class=abt
Lagos State Special Task Force on Land Grabbers (LSSTF/LG)
Role: To check the menace of land-grabbing in the state and tackle the activities of land grabbers, popularly called Omo-Onile, with the full deployment of the resources of the government and applicable law.
Address: Lagos State Ministry of Justice, The Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.
Coordinator: Arole Ibrahim Owolabi
Website: https://lagosstatemoj.org/land-grabbers/
Lagos State Judiciary (Land & Property Dispute Resolution)
Role: Land dispute resolution, tenancy issues, property fraud litigation.
Often via the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja Division—Property & Tenancy Division.
