The Lagos State Government has officially transitioned from analogue and semi-digital systems to a fully automated process for handling planning permits, marking a major shift in urban development administration across the state.
The announcement was made by the Special Adviser to the Governor on E-GIS and Urban Development, Dr. Olajide Abiodun, who explained that the state has now entered what he described as “the dawn of a new era in digital processing of Planning Permissions, Authorisations to Commence Construction Works, Stage Certification, amongst other services.”
According to him, the administration of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu is deliberately phasing out outdated systems in favour of a more efficient, transparent, and technology-driven framework designed to improve service delivery in the built environment sector.
“We are phasing out the old to make way for the new,” he said, stressing that the government is committed to modernising planning administration through the Electronic Physical Planning Process System (EPPPS) and other digital tools under the e-GIS and Urban Development Office.
He also disclosed that the state has completed full preparation for the transition, noting that “100 per cent training and retraining of personnel, 100 per cent computer systems deployment across all districts of LASPPPA and LASBCA, and 100% internet deployment across all district offices” have been achieved.
According to him, the infrastructure supporting the digital system is fully operational and has been thoroughly tested.
Abiodun added that the full automation of the planning permit process officially began on April 1, 2026, stressing that manual processing of planning applications has now been completely discontinued and outlawed in Lagos State.
He warned that anyone still engaging in manual processing of permits after the stated date would be acting illegally, adding that all applications must now be submitted strictly through the EPPPS platform.
He also explained that obtaining planning approval is not the final step in the process.
Applicants, he said, are required to proceed with applications for authorisation to commence construction and stage certifications through the same platform.
According to him, a monitoring task force will be deployed to ensure strict compliance with the new digital procedures across the state.
Speaking further on urban development reforms, the special adviser said the government has introduced a new system known as CAP to strengthen the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) in enforcing development standards.
He described CAP as a public-private partnership initiative that allows accredited private professionals to work alongside LASBCA in monitoring construction projects.
“This helps us ensure strict compliance with the state’s building codes. It will drastically reduce the risk of building collapses while accelerating project delivery.
”It is a win for safety, a win for the construction industry, and a win for Lagosians,” he stated.
Abiodun also noted that the state is decentralising land administration services to improve accessibility for residents.
He announced that the e-GIS Regional Office in Ikeja has commenced operations as a customer-facing centre to handle digitised land administration services, reducing the need for residents to travel to the state secretariat in Alausa for inquiries and documentation.
“This is a dedicated, customer-facing hub designed specifically to handle your digitised land administration activities.
”Citizens will no longer need to travel all the way to Alausa for every land-related inquiry,” he said, adding that more divisional offices across the state will soon become operational.
He also highlighted improvements in mortgage consent processing, explaining that what previously involved about 29 manual steps has now been reduced to just eight steps through the new integrated digital system.
“This marks the dawn of a new era in service delivery in Lagos State. We are systematically phasing out old processes to deliver immediate benefits for the citizens, government, and financial institutions,” he said.
