In line with its mandate of preserving setbacks and incidental open spaces across the State, the Lagos State Planning and Environmental Monitoring Agency (LASPEMA), has issued contravention notices to property owners along the Lekki-Epe axis of the State.
The General Manager of LASPEMA, Tpl. Daisi Oso, who issued the directive during a Monitoring and Compliance exercise to the area, said that the Agency is determined to put a stop to all anomalies perpetrated by property owners along the Lekki-Epe axis.
Oso explained that erecting permanent structures on setbacks and incidental open spaces is an infraction on the State’s Physical Planning laws while such an act also violates the guidelines and principles of urban planning.
He said: “LASPEMA has been mandated not only to monitor but also regulate all activities that go on around all the setbacks and incidental open spaces across the State, in line with Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s T.HE.M.E.S. Agenda”.
The General Manager expressed displeasure with the way and manner setbacks and incidental open spaces have been cornered for commercial purposes, thereby truncating the original purpose of likely future expansion of infrastructure and public utilities like transportation systems, communication cables/networks, sewage, water pipelines, and electricity which the spaces are meant to serve.
He maintained that some roads that are presently single-lane roads could later become dual carriageways, or even become six-lane roads in the nearest future, hence the need to preserve these open spaces and setbacks.
He, therefore, implored the affected property owners to visit LASPEMA at Worksyard, LASURA Compound, Oba Akinjobi Way, Old Secretariat, Ikeja on how to resolve the issue of encroached setbacks and open spaces within the next 48 hours.
While restating the readiness of the Agency to nip in the bud all unlawful practices relating to the mandate of the agency, Oso called on all residents as well as other government establishments to support LASPEMA in its efforts to sanitise Lagos setbacks and incidental open spaces.
