Abstract

The phenomenal growth of our towns and cities has given rise to conurbation and metropolitan areas, with various planning problems such as traffic congestion, slum, shanty towns, waste management, housing, pollution, poverty and several others. There is no doubt that the impact of rapid population growth on housing development in a developing economy is usually a consequence of the push of the rural areas and the pull of the town. There is always an upsurge and conglomeration of people in city centres with the resultant effects on housing growth arising from acute unemployment. This growth and physical expansion of cities have been accompanied by unplanned urban sprawl, environmental pollution, deterioration, deficiencies in modern basic facilities, and general urban decay. As increased poverty and urbanization exert more pressures on urban facilities, most Nigerian cities tend to have lost their original dignity, social cohesion and administrative efficiency. Land Administration in Lagos State, over the last 25years cannot be described as being sustainable. Though, various tools might have been put in place concerning the administration of land, there are still a whole lot of problems being faced on and matters in the state.

Planning for housing and setting standards for the regulation of building construction is a task that seems to overwhelm the relevant government authorities in Nigeria and other parts of the developing world. This paper therefore examines the planning laws and ordinances available in Nigeria, with specific reference to the new Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law 2010, the types and levels of the Planning Authorities and Agencies responsible for the implementation of the laws. It also appraises their activities so far in the area of implementation, their challenges and lastly, makes recommendation for improvement.

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