Ogun Govt Urges Built Environment Professionals to Comply with New Planning Regulations

Abeokuta – The Ogun State Government has called on professionals in the built environment to strictly adhere to the newly approved planning and building regulations, warning that non-compliance continues to cause delays in permit processing, project setbacks, and increased costs.

The charge was made by the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, TPl. Olatunji Odunlami, at the opening of a two-day workshop organised for accredited consulting firms and built environment practitioners in the state.

Odunlami described the gathering as timely, noting that persistent lapses in compliance with existing rules had made the review of the state’s physical development laws inevitable. He disclosed that the Principal Law and five regulations enacted in 2022 have now been updated in 2025, alongside the new Ogun State Building and Construction Code 2025 — the first of its kind to be approved by any state in Nigeria.

“Many registered professionals remain either unaware of these regulations or insufficiently informed about their provisions,” the Commissioner said. He listed recurring problems such as poorly prepared architectural designs, inadequate engineering drawings, and substandard technical reports that often fail regulatory scrutiny and complicate the approval process.

The workshop, he explained, was designed as a platform for knowledge exchange where regulators and practitioners could share field experiences and better understand their respective roles. He urged participants to actively engage in discussions, contribute their expertise, and align their practices with regulatory expectations to enhance the efficiency of the planning permit system.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment to sustainable urban development, Odunlami encouraged professionals to familiarise themselves with the new regulations and the Building and Construction Code, assuring that the Ministry would continue refining its processes to manage the state’s physical development and address emerging challenges.

On accreditation, the Commissioner clarified that the process is a statutory administrative requirement to maintain a database of consulting firms working with the Ministry, and not a duplication of professional registration with respective bodies.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry urged participants to take full advantage of the workshop to deepen their understanding of the new regulations, while advising in-house professionals to desist from cutting corners and compromising standards.

Chairmen of various professional bodies who attended delivered goodwill messages, sharing field experiences and encouraging members to uphold professionalism and support government initiatives.

The workshop featured presentations on planning regulations, compliance frameworks, accreditation standards, and emerging challenges, with interactive sessions aimed at improving knowledge sharing and service delivery across the sector.