The Lagos State Government has made it clear that the reason why it charges solar panel permits for tenants who live in government-owned estates is because the government is responsible for maintaining facilities in its social housing estates.
As a result, in order to install a solar power system, the state government clarified that tenants of its social housing estates must apply for and pay for alteration permissions.
Wale Ajetunmobi, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu‘s Senior Special Assistant on Media, made this statement on Wednesday in response to a widely shared video that showed state Task Force officers conducting an enforcement operation on a property whose occupant had not obtained the permit.
According to Ajetunmobi, the installation of solar power in social housing estates is considered a modification to the estate building’s original functioning and design.
“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”, he said.
“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 Lagos 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.
“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”, he added.
He further explained that 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 emphasized that the Lagos state government has had to deal with liabilities resulting from unauthorized changes made by estate residents, such as roof leaks and serious fire damage.
“So, the simple rule for any estate occupant is to contact the Lagos 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.
