Lagos Identifies Over 3,700 Hectares of Informal Spaces Across 1,700 Locations
The Lagos State Government has revealed that more than 3,700 hectares of informal spaces have been identified across over 1,700 locations in the state as part of efforts to improve urban planning and environmental management.
The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, disclosed this during the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing held on Friday to mark Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s seventh year in office.
According to Olumide, the discovery was made through the Lagos State Informal Space Management Authority (LASISMA) under the Setbacks, Common Areas and Roadsides Administration and Monitoring Project (SCRAMP), an initiative designed to regulate and maximise the use of informal urban spaces across Lagos.
He explained that the project aims to identify, organise and properly utilise setbacks, roadside corridors, common areas and other open spaces to prevent misuse, enhance environmental sustainability and promote orderly development.
“As of December 2025, over 3,700 hectares of informal spaces have been mapped across more than 1,700 locations in Lagos State. These spaces will be properly designated for appropriate use and development in line with the state’s operational plans,” Olumide said.
The commissioner noted that Governor Sanwo-Olu had approved the engagement of Octragon Multi Projects Nigeria Limited to partner with LASISMA in implementing the SCRAMP initiative.
To ensure effective execution of the project, LASISMA has carried out stakeholder engagement programmes involving key government agencies, including the Ministries of Transportation, Commerce and Investment, Energy and Mineral Resources, as well as agencies such as the Lagos State Electricity Board, Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency, Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency, and the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency.
Olumide added that the authority has continued to gather and maintain real-time data on activities within informal urban spaces, creating a reliable information database for government planning and policy formulation.
He also stated that LASISMA is preparing the state for emerging developments such as electric vehicle charging stations and compressed natural gas dispensing facilities by ensuring proper planning of infrastructure corridors.
The commissioner further highlighted LASISMA’s engagement with artisans operating in informal spaces, including carpenters and furniture makers within the Carpenter Village along the Jakande-Isheri-Osun Road in Ejigbo, aimed at addressing operational challenges and encouraging safer use of public spaces.
Olumide reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to promoting sustainable urban development, environmental protection and infrastructure preservation in line with the vision of a more resilient and orderly Lagos.
