#EndSARS: Lagos ministry assesses level of destruction at district offices

By Dada Jackson

The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako, has lamented the level of destruction of its properties by hoodlums.

Salako spoke when he led a management team of the ministry on an assessment tour of its district offices destroyed by miscreants.

He was accompanied on the tour by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Urban Development, Ganiyu Adele Ayuba; Permanent Secretary, Arc. Foluso Dipe; and general managers of Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) Lagos State Building Control Agency(LASBCA), Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency (LASURA) and the Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory( LSMTL).

The commissioner expressed sadness at the level of destruction in LASPPPA/LASBCA district offices in Ibeju, Lagos Island and Ajeromi-Ifelodun as well as the Materials Testing Laboratory Headquarters, Ojodu, where the structures, equipment and documents were completely razed.

He noted that government had taken inventory of affected assets and was ramping up efforts to redress the situation.

His words: “While the unfortunate incident is capable of bringing about untold hardship on Lagosians, especially property owners and developers, staff of the ministry must take a cue from the Governor of Lagos  State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, who has risen above the crises and communicated hope to Lagosians by declaring that Lagos will rise again.”

He stated that concerted efforts were ongoing to ensure that people in the affected areas were able to process their applications for planning permit and other approvals seamlessly, while urging all to take advantage of the Electronic Planning Permit platform: http:// epp.lagosstate.gov.ng to forward their applications.

He added that the state government would expedite action on the initiative to strengthen the  Lagos State Planning Information Centre (LASPIC) for the maintenance of durable planning records.