Why delays in issuing Governor’s Consent assessments are holding back building approvals and what can be done to accelerate property development

In Lagos State’s government schemes, a persistent problem is slowing down development: property owners are often unable to obtain building approvals because the assessment for Governor’s Consent has not been issued. While regulations require that the assessment be issued and paid before an approval is granted (not that the entire consent process be concluded) the reality is that even this first step is frequently delayed.

The real challenge lies in the Lagos Land Registry’s internal inefficiencies, ranging from slow file movement to administrative bottlenecks, mean that consent assessments can take months or even years to issue. This delay, in turn, stalls building approvals and disrupts the timelines of property owners who are otherwise ready to commence construction.

Importantly, building approvals do not confer ownership rights. They simply confirm that a proposed development meets planning and safety requirements. By holding back approvals until assessment is issued, the system is following the letter of applicable regulation, but when assessments are delayed due to departmental inefficiencies, the result is unnecessary stagnation in the property sector.

Given the slow pace of assessment issuance, it is worth considering that this requirement be dispensed with in deserving cases where the assessment has not been issued within a reasonable time. This would ensure that development is not unduly stalled and that the state’s housing and infrastructure targets can still be met, without undermining due process in the long run.

Addressing this problem requires urgent administrative reform within the Land Administration departments. Faster assessment issuance or a

pragmatic waiver where issuance is unreasonably delayed will allow projects to proceed promptly and help Lagos State meet its pressing housing development needs.

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