SANWO-OLU LAUNCHES ELECTRONIC PHYSICAL PLANNING PROCESS SYSTEM TO DRIVE SMART URBAN DEVELOPMENT

The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has launched the Electronic Physical Planning Process System (EPPPS) for digital transformation of land administration, physical planning, and urban development across the State.

Governor Sanwo-Olu said his government remains committed to transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement, adding that it will keep investing in technology-driven solutions that make governance more inclusive, efficient, and responsive to the needs of our people.

He said the EPPS platform is a necessary response to Lagos’ rapid population and urban growth, noting that the old paper-based systems can no longer support the scale and speed of development in a 21st-century megacity.

Speaking at the official launch of the EPPPS held at Victoria Island, Lagos, on Friday, Governor Sanwo-Olu said EPPPS will digitalise planning applications, minimise human interference, reduce corruption, support environmental monitoring, and provide accurate data for infrastructure planning and safety regulation.

The Governor disclosed that with the new digital platform, planning officers will now have access to better tools, including over a thousand newly deployed computers and upgraded digital facilities.

He said the EPPPS fits perfectly with his administration’s THEMES+ Agenda, especially in Technology and Innovation, building a 21st-century economy, and improving governance and service delivery.

“The EPPPS is another bold step toward our Smart City vision—a Lagos where systems are digital, processes are seamless, and citizens can access government services easily. It shows that technology is not just the future; it is already shaping the present — and Lagos is leading the way for Nigeria and Africa.

“This system is designed to make planning processes faster, more transparent, and more accountable. It will help reduce delays, minimise human interference, and support efforts to curb corruption. It also provides accurate data for urban management, infrastructure planning, and environmental monitoring – ensuring every development meets our master plan and safety standards.

“The EPPPS is also in line with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) in using technology to accelerate development. By digitising planning applications and approvals, it promotes transparency, efficiency, and citizen-centred service delivery.

“It simplifies processes for developers and entrepreneurs, speeds up project delivery, ensures sustainable and orderly urban development, and provides accurate data for informed decision-making. Lagos is showing how state-level innovation can support national goals of inclusive growth, efficient governance, and improved quality of life,” he said.

Governor Sanwo-Olu also urged all stakeholders—developers, professionals, and the public—to embrace the innovation and make full use of it to build a Lagos where order, innovation, and sustainability guide every development.

Speaking earlier, the Special Adviser on e-GIS and Urban Development, Dr. Olajide Babatunde, described the launch as the fulfilment of a visionary journey.

He said with EPPPS, the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development will no longer be confronted with the issues of backlogs or people waiting for long hours to see an officer within

Babatunde said the Electronic Physical Planning Process System initiative will add value to land administration and management in Lagos State.

He said: “This is the future of Lagos. This is where we want to be. Apart from the fact that it blocks loopholes, the government revenues that have been missing on a daily basis simply because of human intervention, we are trying to block it. It also reduces your processing time.

“It will also curb corruption from the side of those that are working inside of the government and those working from outside. The systems are incorruptible because they give you real-time, real-life information that cannot easily be manipulated.”

Raymond Tan and Steven Chan, the Singaporean partners and Board members of LagosNet, who worked with Lagos throughout the development process, delivered testimonials on the long-standing collaboration.

Tan noted that Singapore implemented a similar planning and digital design system in 2001, saving the government billions through efficiency and streamlined processes.

He reassured planning officers that EPPPS will not threaten their jobs; instead, it will enhance professionalism, improve decision-making, and support technology-driven workflows. He therefore encouraged industry professionals to embrace the system’s ease of submission, speed of feedback, and digital design compatibility.

Chan expressed confidence that EPPPS will deliver faster approvals, strengthen accountability, and support Lagos’ digital transformation goals.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Innovacore Technologies PTE and member of LagosNet, Mr Adebola Adeyinka, described the project as one that required courage, innovation, and long-term resilience.

He noted that although the project faced scepticism at the early stages, it has proved not to be a “white elephant” but a credible platform built to elevate Lagos to higher economic and governance standards.