The Lagos State Government has dissociated itself from housing development in the Magodo Greenbelt area of the State, saying that no approval for the development of the preserved zone emanated from the State Government.
This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako in a statement on Thursday.
Reacting to claims in the media that the Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, granted approval for housing development along the Magodo Greenbelt area of Lagos State, Salako stated that the government did not approve such development and would never approve same as it is in outright contravention of the State planning laws.
His word: “for the benefit of setting the record straight, the general public is hereby informed that neither the Ministry nor any of her agencies received or granted permit for any housing development in the Greenbelt Area of Magodo”
He emphasised that the Ministry could not have approved such housing development as doing so would be tantamount to outright contravention of the State Planning and Development Control Laws, which were the principles and major instruments for bestowing a balanced and sustainable environment.
As a result, he described any claim linking the ministry to the unwholsome development as frivolous and preemptive as it could not be substantiated.
“However, the Ministry would continue to implement the State’s Policy of Zero Tolerance on all illegal physical developments, including the regrettable encroachment of the Sensitive Ecological Zones in order to preserve and guide against the misuse/ abuse of all Greenbelts , Gorges, Water bodies, Wetlands and other vulnerable natural Landscapes in every part of the State,” he said.
He assured that the Ministry would continue to be in the forefront of efforts to attain an orderly, organised and livable environment by maintaining studious application of the State Policies and Operative Development Plans, especially at this period of global environmental challenges typified by the coronavirus pandemic, which has occasioned the State’s directive for the suspension of all building constructions as a means of stopping the spread.
The Commissioner urged anyone with contrary information to feel free to approach the Lagos State Physical Planning and Building Control Appeals Committee which he said was open to receive complaints from members of the public on infractions relating to the built environment.
