Lagos Launches Statewide Effort to Formalize Informal Land Spaces

The Lagos State Government has announced a major initiative to identify, document, and formalize all informal land spaces across the state. The move aims to curb misuse, unlock economic potential, and increase government revenue.

Unveiled at a stakeholders’ meeting hosted by the Lagos State Valuation Office in Alausa, the project has received the approval of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Consulting firm Octagon Multi Projects has been engaged to lead the comprehensive exercise, which will involve all relevant state ministries and agencies.

Officials highlighted the critical need for the intervention. Olumide Sotire, Permanent Secretary of the Office of Physical Planning, stated that informal lands have been “largely abused” and emphasized that “Lagos’ oil is its land.” He affirmed the government’s deliberate steps to reclaim and restore these spaces for proper use.

The initiative, driven by the slogan “In Lagos, every square metre matters,” seeks to address significant revenue losses. Gbolahan Awonusi, CEO of Octagon Consultants, cited a past project initially valued at ₦800 million, whose worth is now approximately ₦8 billion a gap representing lost state income.

The current project scope has expanded to cover an estimated 3,744 hectares of undocumented land across Lagos, with a projected value of ₦3 trillion. Awonusi stated that proper documentation and development would substantially increase land value, generate revenue, and drive structured planning, with compensation paid where applicable.

The Lagos State Valuation Office stated the initiative is designed to strengthen investment growth and improve long-term revenue prospects for the state.