Lagos State Government has clarified that residents living in its social housing estates are required to obtain and pay for alteration permits, which include the installation of a solar power system.

Wale Ajetunmobi, the Senior Special Assistant on Media to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, stated this on Wednesday while responding to a viral video showing Task Force officials from the state carrying out an enforcement operation on a building whose occupant failed to obtain the permit.

Ajetunmobi explained that the installation of solar power in the social housing estates is regarded as an alteration to the original design and functionality of an estate building.

He wrote, “This development is true, but the man who made the video seems to be misinformed about the Lagos State Government’s guidelines for installing solar energy systems in social housing estates.

“He is likely to be a tenant in one of these social housing estates owned by the Lagos State Government. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have raised concerns about something that was clearly outlined in the indemnity document he signed before the Government handed over the apartment to him after purchase.”

Ajetunmobi added, “Now, to the issue: the Lagos State Government DOES NOT charge all residents living in the State for a permit to install solar power systems for domestic use in their homes, as the video suggested. ONLY residents living in the government-owned social housing estates are charged administrative fees for Alterations, such as the installation of a solar power system, before any additional development can be permitted.”

“The reason for this is that the State Government is responsible for maintaining facilities in its social housing estates. There is a public electricity supply system already installed in the Estates. Installation of an additional power system is taken as an alteration to the original design and functionality of an Estate building.”

The Governor’s aide added that any alteration must be run through the Physical Planning and Survey departments of the Ministry of Housing for approval, material compliance and post-inspection checks.

Ajetunmobi disclosed that the enforcement officers recorded in the viral video are officials from the Monitoring and Compliance Unit of the Ministry of Housing, adding that the occupant in the video didn’t comply with alteration guidelines before proceeding.

“Any alteration must be run through the Physical Planning and Survey departments of the Ministry of Housing for approval, material compliance and post-inspection checks. Those solar power systems are usually installed by occupants in shared areas; so this alteration must be approved by the facility manager (Government) before any occupant can proceed.

“The man in the video obviously did not apply for approval before embarking on such an alteration. The uniformed men seen in the video are from the Monitoring and Compliance Unit of the Ministry,” he explained.

He further stressed that the State Government has had to deal with liability from unpermitted alterations by estate residents, including leaking roofs and severe damage caused by fire.

“So, the simple rule for any estate occupant is to contact the State Government (facility manager) for approval for any external alteration they want to undertake in their building. If an unpermitted alteration affects the entire property, other occupants will hold the government responsible,” Ajetunmobi concluded. (TVC News)

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