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Nuclear energy, future of power generation, says Power Minister

Michael Simire
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Nuclear energy, future of power generation, says Power Minister

As part of the efforts towards expanding the scope of electricity supply to Nigerians, the Federal Ministry of Power has begun moves to collaborate with the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) to increase power generation and make supply more stable, effective, and reliable.

Nuclear energy
Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu (right) with the Acting Chairman, Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) , Anthony Ekedewa

The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, disclosed this on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, when he received the Acting Chairman of the Commission, Anthony Ekedewa, in his office in Abuja. Adelabu said the collaboration would boost power generation and stabilise the power sector as part of the reforms being undertaken in the sector.

As an advanced level of power generation, the Minister said the country would benefit significantly from a nuclear power plant especially, with the technology that will come in as it will make power generation less cumbersome. He said the participation of the commission in the power sector was long overdue and promised to work with the agency.

Adelabu however advised against the proposed establishment of four power plants with capacity to generate 1200 MW each by the Commission. He said modular nuclear reactor is the way to go especially with the way the government has decentralised the sector.

“This is an area that states can benefit from. A lot of investment has gone into the development of the commission over the years and Nigeria should start reaping from the investment.”

According to him, although the process is tedious and costly, the outcome is more beneficial to the country adding that nuclear power plant is an advanced stage of energy generation.

“I wish we are there already in this country, but we are not there yet. We should however ask ourselves, how much of the conventional source of energy have we exploited? Nuclear power plant tends to be at the lower end of concern over the years, but we have to understand that nuclear energy is the future of energy generation.”

He recognises that there had not been much done in areas of collaboration between the Ministry and the Commission.

“We have not been having this rapport in the past, but I’m happy we are starting from somewhere now and I believe that we will sustain it for the overall benefit of our country. This is an advanced level of energy generation,  but we must also embrace it because whatever that can add value to our power sector, we must embrace.

“As we all know, leaders would naturally want projects that would materialise in their time in office but any serious government will know that this is the future of the sector. Nuclear energy is the future of power generation. So, we must partner with you on how to improve the sector and this meeting is a right step in the right direction. We have formally established a relationship with you and we have so much to benefit from each other,” the Minister said.

The Minister proposed a workshop by both the ministry and the commission with other stakeholders in the power sector in attendance in order to brainstorm on how the collaboration can be better sustained and beneficial.

“As we all know, this is not a cheap thing but we can start with a workshop where experts from your side and our side will brainstorm and work out how we can further benefit from each other. We are reforming the power sector and this will be the most appropriate time for this kind of collaboration as states are now having their own power projects. This is certainly for the future of this country and it is important we make progress on it,” Adelabu said.

Earlier, Ekedawa briefed the Minister on the activities of the commission, which he said was established in 1976, by former President Olusegun Obasanjo as a military head of state. He said, as a renewable energy, nuclear energy could power the entire country. He said the Commission is proposing the establishment of nuclear power plants with the capacity to generate about 1200MW.

“We want to work and partner with you in the area of power generation. We can be a base load for the country and we have two possible sites, Geregu in Kogi State and Idu in Akwa Ibom State. We have carried out the feasibility studies. This collaboration is part of our energy policy, but we are however limited by resources to undertake this project,” Ekedewa said.

Along with the Acting Chairman during the visit were Prof Abdullahi Mati, Awwal Bisallah, and Justice Sule.

Concern as scientists discover microplastics in brain arteries

Michael Simire
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Concern as scientists discover microplastics in brain arteries

Alarming new scientific findings have sparked a call to action from Swedish water and beverage company Bluewater: We need to urgently investigate the threat of microplastics – tiny fragments of plastic pollution – now discovered inside the arteries that feed the human brain.

Microplastics
Microplastics found in arteries leading to the human brain spark call from Bluewater for more research. Photo credit iambuff iStock-1319045525.jpg

The shocking revelation comes from a preliminary study led by Dr. Ross Clark, a vascular surgeon and assistant professor at the University of New Mexico and was unveiled at the American Heart Association’s Vascular Discovery: From Genes to Medicine Scientific Sessions, held April 22 to 25, 2025, at the Marriott Baltimore Waterfront in Baltimore, Maryland.

Dr. Clark’s team found micro and nano plastics embedded in the carotid arteries – vital blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the brain. The highest concentrations were found in individuals who had suffered strokes or stroke-like symptoms.

Stroke survivors had 51 times more plastic particles in their arterial plaque than those with healthy arteries. Even individuals with no symptoms, but with arterial plaque, had 16 times more plastic contamination.

“These findings are a red alert,” said Swedish ecopreneur Bengt Rittri, founder and CEO of Bluewater. “This isn’t just about pollution in oceans or landfills anymore – this is about pollution in our bodies. These microscopic plastics may be putting our most vital systems at risk.”

The discovery builds on a growing mountain of evidence showing that microplastics are infiltrating virtually every part of the human body – lungs, liver, placenta, breast milk, urine, and even brain tissue. While it’s too early to say definitively what damage these particles may cause, researchers have observed clear biological changes. In patients with high levels of arterial plaques, there were disruptions in gene activity and immune response, changes that could destabilize plaques and increase the risk of stroke or heart attack.

Dr. Clark cautioned in an American Heart Association news release against jumping to conclusions but emphasised the urgency of further research.

“These particles might just be tagging along – or they might be accelerating disease. The truth is, we don’t know yet. But the fact that they’re there, in such high amounts, should be enough to alarm us,” he said.

Bluewater calls on the international scientific, medical, and policy communities to rally and prioritise this research. With microplastics now unavoidable in the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe, understanding their impact on human health is no longer optional – it’s essential.

“Bluewater is committed to promoting and supporting science and public health efforts to counter the negative impact posed by toxic single-use plastics, particularly single-use bottles,” said Bengt Rittri.

Forests crucial to climate resilience – Environment minister

Michael Simire
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Forests crucial to climate resilience – Environment minister

The Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Lawal, has emphasised the role of forests in regulating Nigeria’s climatic conditions and strengthening the country’s climate resilience.

Balarabe Abbas Lawal
Minister of Environment, Alhaji Balarabe Lawal

He made this known during the 2025 Ministerial Press briefing on Wednesday, May 7, in Abuja.

“Forests play a crucial role in biodiversity conservation, maintaining water cycles, and providing livelihoods for millions of people,” Lawal said.

He noted that the ministry has implemented strategic measures to curb unsustainable agricultural practices, excessive logging, and infrastructure deficits.

These actions, he noted have greatly reduced the rates of deforestation, forest degradation, and the resulting adverse climate effects.

“It is worthy of note that significant achievements have been recorded in forest restoration under the administration of President Bola Tinubu,” the minister added.

Lawal highlighted the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) as a key initiative of the Federal Government aimed at implementing the recommendations of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Report on the oil spill in Ogoniland.

“HYPREP has commenced the world’s most extensive mangrove restoration in Ogoniland. The pilot phase, covering 560 hectares, is 85 per cent complete, with over two million seedlings of red, black, and white mangrove species planted.

“This marks the first mangrove restoration in Nigeria involving the planting of multiple species,” he said.

The minister also disclosed that Nigeria signed a Cooperation Framework Agreement with the Republic of Cameroon on April 19, 2024.

“The agreement promotes trans-boundary ecosystem conservation and the sustainable management of forestry and wildlife resources.

“This collaboration is aimed at protecting shared ecosystems, including forests, wildlife, and water bodies, and ensuring coordinated management of trans-boundary protected areas such as the Cross River National Park (Nigeria) and Korup National Park (Cameroon), which are biodiversity hotspots,” he explained.

Lawal said the overarching goal of the ministry’s initiatives is to improve the resilience of vulnerable communities, particularly in Nigeria’s drylands, to climate change and climate variability.

He outlined further achievements of the ministry, including the raising of 3.85 million neem seedlings for the establishment of plant nurseries across the 11 frontline states of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW).

“These seedlings are expected to support reforestation efforts and provide raw materials for medicinal purposes.”

He also commended the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN), which has led research on forestry, forest products, and environmental development initiatives, notably the digitalisation of forest zones across the country.

Speaking on the role of the National Park Service (NPS), Lawal said the agency remains central to the protection and conservation of national parks and wildlife reserves.

“NPS is responsible for enforcing environmental laws to prevent illegal activities such as poaching, deforestation, and encroachment on protected lands.

“One of its major achievements is the enhancement of forest security through strengthened inter-agency collaboration, particularly with the Nigerian military,” Lawal stated.

This collaboration, he said, is beginning to yield positive results, notably in the recovery of forest areas previously occupied by bandits and in sustaining efforts against insurgency and terrorism in Nigeria’s forested regions.

By Abigael Joshua

24 federal tertiary institutions powered by solar energy – Minister

Michael Simire
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24 federal tertiary institutions powered by solar energy – Minister

The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, says 24 federal institutions have been powered by solar energy under the “Energising Education Project’’ of President Bola Tinubu’s Administration.

Solar
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, at the Collaboration Agreement Signing Ceremony with the Vice Chancellors of beneficiary institutions on powering education through sustainable and innovative energy, in Abuja on Wednesday

Alausa, who disclosed this on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in Abuja, at the Collaboration Agreement Signing Ceremony with the Vice Chancellors of beneficiary institutions, added that eight more universities have signed collaboration agreements to join the fourth phase of the project.

Before the signing ceremony, the minister undertook an inspection tour of the solar powered facility at the University of Abuja, now Yakubu Gowon University,

Alausa, who described the project as a “new day for Nigeria”, hailed the transformative initiative under Tinubu, aimed at providing uninterrupted power supply to Nigeria’s federal tertiary institutions.

He said the projects had wide-reaching benefits for education and the economy.

According to him, the University of Abuja, which now boasts of a solar farm comprising 6,000 photovoltaic panels, is generating approximately 3.3 megawatts of electricity daily, enough to power the campus round-the-clock.

“This project brings continuous 24-hour electricity to our institutions.

“It allows for increased academic activity, powers laboratories and libraries throughout the day and night, and improves living and learning conditions for both students and faculty,’’ he said.

The minister emphasised the economic ripple effect of the initiative, explaining how reliable electricity stimulates business within campuses.

“Any campus is a community by itself. With constant power supply, you unleash high economic activity,” he said.

The Minister explained that the project was backed by the Renewable Infrastructure Fund established by President Tinubu, to support infrastructure development across sectors.

He, therefore, challenged Vice Chancellors of universities on innovative and creative ways of sustaining the project, noting that, before 2027, every tertiary institution would have renewable energy generation.

On his part, the Managing Director, Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Abba Aliyu, said that the phases 1, 2, and 3 of the projects have so far impacted over 600,000 students and 50,000 academic staffers.

Aliyu said that the project had also generated over 100 megawatts of electricity to power university campuses and teaching hospitals.

He said the initiative, implemented through multiple phases, had already brought solar mini-grid infrastructure to 24 federal universities across the country.

“What you are seeing here is one of our interventions in the education sector, and the aim is to ensure that universities have a sustainable and affordable electricity supply,” he said

In addition to educational institutions, he said the Universal Public Health Project, part of phase 2, had successfully delivered clean energy to two universities and two teaching hospitals.

He added that the Phase 3, which includes electrification of eight more universities and one additional teaching hospital, is near completion and set to be commissioned in the coming two months.

The eight new beneficiary institutions include: Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; University of Nigeria, Nsukka; and Federal University, Wukari, Taraba state.

Others are Federal University Dutse, University of Benin, University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and University of Lagos. 

Valuers seek review of land, housing policies

Michael Simire
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Valuers seek review of land, housing policies

The Nigerian Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) has called for an overhaul of the Land Use Act and National Housing Policy.

Victor Alonge
NIESV President and Chairman of Council, Victor Alonge

NIESV President and Chairman of Council, Victor Alonge, made the call on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at a news conference during the institution’s 55th annual conference in Abuja.

Alonge said the Land Use Act, in place since 1978, is outdated and needs review to expand land access and spur real estate development.

He noted land should be more accessible to all Nigerians, not just wealthy developers who often acquire vast portions of land.

“The masses struggle to access land. The Act should be reviewed, and the land administration system revisited,” he said.

Alonge also highlighted the need to revisit the National Housing Policy to tackle persistent challenges in the housing sector.

He stated that affordable housing delivery requires a multi-sector approach and deliberate policymaking with input from professionals.

He observed that housing policies often lack clarity, leading to confusion in their implementation.

According to him, affordable housing and social housing are frequently misunderstood as being the same.

He said many so-called affordable homes remain unaffordable for low-income earners.

“There is poor understanding and weak policy design around affordable housing. Nigeria lacks a proper social housing system,” he said.

Alonge explained that social housing typically serves workers like nurses and teachers, providing homes in central or high-value locations.

He said other countries offer city-centre homes to key workers through targeted policies, allowing them to live among the affluent.

Alonge also backed punitive taxation on vacant properties to compel owners to rent or occupy them.

“In advanced economies, empty homes are heavily taxed to discourage leaving them unused.

“If faced with high taxes on an empty house, owners would likely reconsider keeping it vacant,” Alonge added.

By Angela Atabo

Steadfast commitment, pathway to achieving SDGs – Inclusive educator

Michael Simire
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Steadfast commitment, pathway to achieving SDGs – Inclusive educator

An inclusive educator, Dr Akhere Aghedo-Akran, has called on teachers to approach teaching and learning with commitment in order to attain Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4 in the education sector.

SDGs
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Aghedo-Akran, who made this call during an interview on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in Lagos, submitted that genuine inclusion in education demands more than token efforts, saying that SDG 4 focuses on ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.

She advocated a shift from competition to collaboration in schools, noting that a hyper-competitive environment undermined students’ mental health and fosters unhealthy rivalry.

The educator noted: “Inclusion is neither a favour nor an afterthought, but rather a right for every learner and a shared responsibility among all educators and stakeholders.

“When we choose justice over charity in our schools, we affirm the dignity of every child and lay the foundation for a more equitable society,” she said.

“Let us shift our thinking, seeing inclusion not as charity, but as justice. Every child deserves a space at the table and equitable access to educational content.”

Aghedo-Akran urged educators to ensure that every child was not only physically present in the classroom but also actively engaged, participating in lessons, forming friendships, and gaining the confidence to tackle life’s challenges.

“SDG 4 should not be a footnote in our school calendar; it must be the heartbeat of our collective mission. We no longer have the luxury of merely talking about equity in education, we must live it,” she noted.

Aghedo-Akran also called on school administrators, teachers, and support staff to work collaboratively to modify the learning environment, including timetables, teaching methods, assessments, and classroom layouts, to ensure full participation of all students, regardless of ability.

“We must guide every decision, from how we welcome children to how we structure each lesson. It’s time to go beyond warm words and lofty promises, we must work the talk,” she said.

“When competition becomes the sole measure of success, mental health is sacrificed on the altar of grades and trophies. Instead, let us celebrate the pupil who helps a classmate, the group that solves a problem together, and the peer who comforts someone in distress,” she said.

According to Aghedo-Akran, social integration skills and problem-solving abilities are just as vital as exam scores. She stressed the importance of recognising each child’s unique strengths, whether in storytelling, artistic expression, or logical reasoning, and designing lessons that allow them to thrive.

“Inclusion flourishes when we acknowledge and build on the unique gifts each child brings to the classroom. Our role as educators and parents is to nurture potential, not to fit every child into the same standardised mould,” she added.

Aghedo-Akran also called for policy reforms and institutional support, including regular professional development for teachers in inclusive pedagogy.

She also called for greater collaboration with special-needs experts to integrate differentiated teaching strategies, visual, auditory, and kinaesthetic, into daily instruction.

“Parental involvement must go beyond signing homework diaries. It includes understanding each child’s strengths, communicating regularly with teachers, and ensuring that Individualised Education Plans (IEPs) are more than just paperwork,” she said.

She concluded by calling on policymakers and planners to embed inclusion in school funding formulas, curriculum design, and teacher training standards.

“SDG 4 demands measurable targets—such as a percentage of classrooms equipped for learners with disabilities, quotas for special-needs specialists in every district, and annual audits of school climate and accessibility,” Aghedo-Akran said.

By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu

ATC 2025: Tanzania, São Tomé and Príncipe lead charge in energy innovation, investment

Michael Simire
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ATC 2025: Tanzania, São Tomé and Príncipe lead charge in energy innovation, investment

The Government of Tanzania, through the Petroleum Upstream Regulatory Authority (PURA), is preparing to auction 26 oil and gas exploration blocks in November 2025 in London. This marks the country’s fifth licensing round and is part of a broader effort to attract foreign investment and expand exploration activities in both offshore and inland basins.

Dar es Salaam
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, is hosting the Africa Technology Conference

The blocks include 23 located in the Indian Ocean and three in Lake Tanganyika – regions with promising geological structures that mirror nearby countries where substantial hydrocarbon reserves have been discovered.

As part of a wider regional dialogue, Charles Sangweni, the Director General and Chair of PURA, will also be a key speaker at ATC 2025 holding in Dar es Salaam from May 27 to 29, 2025. He is expected to lead discussions on the strategic importance of these exploration blocks and their potential to transform the energy landscape across East Africa.

“This licensing round is a vital step in unlocking Tanzania’s hydrocarbon potential,” said Sangweni in an earlier statement. “We are improving the investment environment, including updating our Model Production Sharing Agreement to offer globally competitive terms.”

Tanzania currently has an estimated 57.54 trillion cubic feet of recoverable natural gas reserves, mostly located offshore. The upcoming auction is seen as a move to capitalise on these reserves to support economic development, enhance energy security, and position Tanzania as a regional energy hub.

The government is offering extensive data packages for each block – comprising seismic data, well logs and geological studies – to help investors make informed decisions.

With high-level participation from headline sponsors, PURA, the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation and other regional stakeholders at the Africa Technology Conference, Tanzania is positioning itself at the centrre of Africa’s evolving energy future.

São Tomé and Príncipe, represented by the National Petroleum Agency (ANP-STP), will also join ATC 2025 to present its forward-looking energy strategies and regional collaboration efforts, reinforcing the continent’s collective push toward a dynamic and sustainable energy future.

Speakers Álvaro Silva, Executive Director and Cél­sio Quaresma, Economic Director, will showcase São Tomé and Príncipe’s energy strategies, innovations and investment opportunities.

Their presence will elevate the conversation around Africa’s energy transformation and contribute meaningfully to shaping a sustainable future.

UN launches $159m plan to avert food security crisis in Borno, Adamawa, Yobe

Michael Simire
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UN launches $159m plan to avert food security crisis in Borno, Adamawa, Yobe

Nigeria’s Federal Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, and the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall, on Tuesday, May 6, launched the 2025 Lean Season Response Plan for Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) states in north-east Nigeria.

Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda

The Plan seeks $159 million for urgent nutrition, food, and health interventions and other life-saving assistance for 2 million people in most severe need in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) states over the next six months.

In the BAY states, 1 million children are at risk of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in 2025 – double the number in 2024. Of these children, over 600,000 are at risk of SAM over the next six months. Without access to lifesaving nutrition services, they may die.

An estimated 4.6 million people in the BAY states are also projected to face acute food insecurity during the lean season starting in June – according to the Government-led Cadre Harmonisé food security analysis results released in March 2025. This marks the sixth consecutive year of severe conditions.

In his remarks at the launch of the Plan in Abuja, Minister Yilwatda emphasised the need for urgent action.

“This Plan is not just about structures and strategies. It is about a promise that no child in Borno, Adamawa, or Yobe should have to sleep hungry when the world has enough food; that no mother should lose a child to a condition we know how to treat, and that dignity must never be a casualty of conflict or poverty,” he said.

He also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to leading the response, aligning it to national policies.

The BAY states are grappling with a 15-year humanitarian crisis, which has been intensified by prolonged conflict, economic instability, and climatic shocks. Significant funding cuts for humanitarian operations in 2025 have multiplied the severity of needs and limited access to much-needed lifesaving support.

The health and nutrition sectors have been particularly impacted in the BAY states, with up to 70 per cent of health services and 50 per cent of nutrition services affected. This is threatening gains in malnutrition prevention and treatment. 

“Humanitarianism is under threat; solidarity is in short supply, and the lack of resources is putting millions, especially children, at risk,” the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall, said.

He reiterated the critical role of Government leadership and the need for the private sector and emerging donors to support humanitarians to address the alarming needs. 

Early action is critical to mitigate the worst impacts of the lean season on children under the age of five and pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. The lean season response plan focuses on the most immediate lifesaving needs, including food assistance, emergency healthcare, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene, protection, and agricultural livelihoods.

It also calls for sustained investments in locally led responses for longer-term resilience. 

Fresh oil spill reported in Bayelsa community

Michael Simire
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Fresh oil spill reported in Bayelsa community

A fresh oil spill has been reported in the Ogboinbiri community, part of the Apoi clan in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

Oil spill
Oil spill

The spill, which occurred on Saturday, May 3, 2025, took place near Oando’s Ogboinbiri Flow Station located in the deep swamp area of the council. Although operators of the facility could not be immediately reached for comments, reliable sources confirmed that the incident was caused by equipment failure, with a rupture occurring at the 6 o’clock position – directly beneath the pipeline.

Reacting to the development, the Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN) expressed concern over the recurring spills. The Deputy Director of EDEN, Comrade Alagoa Morris, noted that the latest spill marks the fourth equipment-related incident in the area between September 2024 and May 3, 2025.

Speaking in Yenagoa on Tuesday, May 6, Morris – who also serves as the Technical Assistant to the Bayelsa State Governor on Environment – decried the frequency of spills and called for urgent action.

“With regular integrity checks on facilities and timely replacement of aging pipelines, the high frequency of oil spill incidents would be drastically reduced,” he said.

Morris stressed that only the prompt recovery of spilled crude oil, comprehensive cleanup, and proper remediation of affected environments would suffice.

“The sooner these measures are implemented, the better – especially as we are approaching the rainy season,” he added.

Lagos widens planning permit net as more buildings get approvals

Michael Simire
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0
Lagos widens planning permit net as more buildings get approvals

The Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu Administration has, in the last six years, widened the Planning Permit net with the approval of more buildings in Lagos State.

Lagos
Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, briefing the press in Lagos

This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, on Wednesday, May 7, during the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing of the Office of Physical Planning at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja.

He hinted that the Lagos State Government, through the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA), has, in the last six years, granted a total of 37,266 Approvals for various uses, including residential, commercial, mixed-use, and institutional, among others, adding that, in 2024 alone, LASPPPA granted Approvals for 95 Hospitals, 27 Petrol Filling Stations, 151 Shopping Malls, and 95 Schools, among others.

Olumide said that LASPPPA surpassed its pre-amnesty window record of 2,201 approvals by 6,655 as it granted a total of 8,856 approvals between May and December, 2024, while the Amnesty window was on.

The Commissioner, who was excited at the success of the Amnesty Programme, designed to allow owners and developers of existing buildings without approvals regularise their property, said that the Sanwo-Olu Administration successfully encouraged more property owners to regularise their buildings as application and Approval rate swelled during the Amnesty window that lasted for 180 days.

His words: “The amnesty window was divided into three phases, yielding impressive results: for the first phase (May-July 2024), LASPPPPA granted 2,151 approvals; the second phase (August-October 2024) witnessed a total of 6,402 applications out of which 3,570 approvals were granted; and the third phase (November-December 2024) recorded 7,210 applications and 3,135 approvals, bringing the total Amnesty Period achievements to 18,489 applications and 8,856 Approvals, respectively.”

He added that the two months that followed the Amnesty window, that is, January and February 2025, recorded a combined 1,369 approvals against 2,084 applications.

He urged property owners and developers to always seek the Planning Information service of the Ministry and guard against factors causing delays in Approval, such as non-compliance with zoning regulations, exceeding permissible limits, and deviation from Master Plan, among others.

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