The Lagos State Government has introduced a separate screening fee for building plan approvals as part of ongoing reforms to strengthen safety and transparency in the state’s construction sector.
The Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on e-GIS and Urban Development, Dr Babatunde, disclosed this in Lagos while addressing professionals and members of the public on recent changes within the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA).
Babatunde said the new billing system separates the screening fee from the stage certification fee.
He said that LASBCA would now handle its billing independently from the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA).
“After you get your drawings approved by LASPPPA, they will send them to LASBCA for screening, and we will charge a small screening fee.
“The screening is done by both Certified Accreditors Programme (CAP) agents and our in-house staff to ensure quality control and compliance,” he said.
He noted that the reform was part of efforts to make Lagos a 21st-century city with safe and structurally sound buildings.
“We want a Lagos where everyone can live and work without fear of building collapse,” he said.
According to him, the state has engaged CAP agents: qualified private professionals who will assist LASBCA in screening building plans, inspecting construction sites, and issuing stage certifications.
Babatunde said the initiative became necessary because LASBCA did not have enough personnel and resources to cover all parts of the state.
“LASBCA has the capability but not enough capacity. Engaging professionals under CAP helps us expand coverage and make buildings safer,” he said.
He added that for transparency, all drawings received from LASPPPA would be sent to CAP agents through DHL, while the state transitions to a fully electronic process by early 2026.
“By January or February, all submissions and payments will be done electronically under the new electronic physical planning system,” he said.
Babatunde assured that there was no increase in fees for stage certification and that the public could still discuss billing matters with LASBCA.
He said the names and contact details of CAP agents would soon be published in national newspapers for easy identification by residents.
In his remarks, Mr Gbenga Ismail, immediate Past Chairman, Lagos Branch of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, commended the government for strengthening partnerships between professionals and the state.
“This collaboration will improve monitoring and help prevent building collapse,” he said.
The Acting General Manager of LASBCA, Mrs Florence Gbaye, called for greater professional responsibility and voluntary compliance.
“We all know the right thing to do. No building should proceed without professionals on site.
“To end building collapse, government, professionals and the public must all work together,” she said.
Also speaking, Mr Owolabi Ayoola, the Chairman, Nigerian Institution of Building, Lagos Chapter, urged LASBCA to ensure that no construction project moves to the next stage without the proper compliance forms signed by professionals.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Certified Accreditors Programme is an initiative of the Lagos State Government aimed at improving safety in the built environment.
Under the programme, accredited private-sector professionals, known as CAP agents, work with LASBCA to screen building plans, inspect sites, and ensure compliance with building control laws.
They also support government officials in monitoring construction activities across the state to prevent building collapse and ensure that all structures are safe and habitable.
