Lagos Begins Documentation of Informal Public Spaces

Lagos govt begins documentation of informal public spaces, directs occupants to present ownership documents.

The Lagos State Government has directed occupants of setbacks, roadsides, and other informal public spaces across the state to present documents supporting their occupation as it begins a statewide documentation exercise to regulate their use.

Wasiu Olayinka, the Permanent Secretary, Office of Physical Planning, signed the notice announcing the exercise, which is being carried out under the Setbacks, Common Areas and Roadsides Administration and Monitoring Project (SCRAMP) through the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.

The government stated that the exercise is backed by the amended Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law, 2019, and is intended to preserve land needed for existing and future public infrastructure while promoting orderly physical development.

According to the notice, the state completed the mapping of more than 1,700 SCRAMP locations across Lagos by 31 December 2025 after a six-month advocacy and stakeholder engagement campaign.

It explained that the ongoing documentation phase would create a comprehensive inventory of informal public spaces to guide their management, harmonisation, and optimal utilisation.

The latest exercise builds on the state’s broader efforts to improve the administration of public land. Earlier this year, Lagos officials revealed that the SCRAMP initiative identified more than 3,700 hectares of underutilised public spaces, including setbacks, roadsides, bridge loops, utility corridors, and similar areas, across over 1,700 locations.

The government noted that the project is designed to protect land reserved for infrastructure and to introduce a transparent framework for the temporary use of eligible public spaces.

The notice directed all existing users or occupants of setbacks, common areas, and other informal spaces to submit documents supporting their occupation for verification.

Prospective applicants were also advised to submit their applications through the SCRAMP portal or designated offices of Octragon Multi-Projects Limited and LASISMA across the state.

The Lagos State Government enjoined all residents and stakeholders to cooperate fully with this exercise.

In Lagos, Every Square Metre of Land Matters, the statement added.