By JOY OYERINDE / LYDIA CHIGOZIE-NGWAKWE

Lagos State Government has identified over 3,700 hectares of informal urban spaces across more than 1,700 locations under its Setbacks, Common Areas and Roadsides Administration and Monitoring Project (SCRAMP).

The state Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Abiodun Olumide, disclosed this during the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing to mark Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s third year of second term, on Friday in Ikeja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the initiative is designed to address indiscriminate use and illegal conversion of public spaces.

Olumide said the identified areas included bridge loops, shorelines, railway corridors, powerline right-of-ways and broadband infrastructure corridors.

According to him, Octragon Multi-Projects Ltd. was appointed consultant to support the identification, documentation and proper utilisation of such spaces across the state.

He said the measure became necessary due to increasing physical planning and environmental infractions arising from misuse of setbacks, roadsides and common areas.

“As of December 2025, over 3,700 hectares of such spaces have been discovered in over 1,700 locations in the state,” he said.

Olumide said the government had since January 2026 engaged its ministries, departments and agencies to secure collaboration for implementation of SCRAMP.

He said that extensive consultations and advocacy campaigns were carried out to ensure proper understanding of the policy and prevent abuse of informal urban spaces.

The commissioner clarified that the government did not intend to displace current occupants except where such locations were required for their original public purpose.

He said implementation of the initiative had improved compliance, reduced environmental nuisance and strengthened enforcement of regulations guiding public spaces.

Olumide also highlighted activities of the Lagos State Informal Space Management Authority (LASISMA), saying that it intensified monitoring, regulation and transformation of informal urban spaces.

He said LASISMA carried out real-time data collection, installation of bollards, monitoring of setbacks and roadsides, and implementation of public-private partnership initiatives to enhance urban orderliness.

Olumide said the agency collaborated with several bodies, including the state Ministry of Transportation and Lagos State Valuation Office, to strengthen coordinated urban management.

He added that LASISMA developed action plans for corridors such as AIT Powerline High Tension Corridor, Ojota–Opebi Link Bridge, and Agric–Isawo, Itamaga–Elepe–Maya and Ogolonto–Ipakodo corridors.

According to him, the plans include reconnaissance surveys, drone mapping, stakeholder engagement, enforcement notices and action area plans to prevent encroachment.

Olumide said the authority also engaged artisans and traders within informal spaces to promote compliance and environmental sustainability.

He added that LASISMA introduced the Lagos Green Kiosk initiative to promote renewable energy usage, improve urban aesthetics and generate projected annual revenue of N1.28 billion.

He disclosed that a hybrid solar-powered air compressor pumping machine had been installed to reduce pollution and improve efficiency among vulcanisers.

The commissioner reaffirmed the government’s commitment to environmental sustainability, orderly urban development and effective management of informal spaces. (NAN)

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