Business
LASG Enforces Digital Building Permits, Declares Manual Process Illegal
In line with the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration’s vision to build a more efficient, transparent and technology-driven governance system, the Lagos State Government has urged residents to ensure proper documentation of their properties, as the full automation of its Electronic Physical Planning Permit System (EPPPS) has begun since April 1, this year.
Speaking during a press conference held at Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, the Special Adviser to Governor Sanwo-Olu on E-GIS and Urban Development, Dr. Olajide Babatunde, said the initiative by the government is aimed at reducing the incidents of collapsed buildings and to position Lagos as a leader in digital governance and ease of doing business.
Babatunde added that Lagos State is “unlocking efficiency, reducing risks, and removing bureaucratic bottlenecks” for the benefit of citizens and investors alike, noting that the reform will reduce bureaucratic processes, leveraging technology.
Dr. Babatunde therefore urged those who have not taken advantage of the Electronic Physical Planning Permit System (EPPPS) before April 1 to turn in their documents to avoid the full wrath of the law.
He said the commencement of the full implementation of its Electronic Physical Planning Process System (EPPPS) has formally ended the manual processing of building approvals across the State, noting that the initiative signals “the dawn of a new era in digital processing of planning permissions” in Lagos.
Dr Babatunde explained that the EPPPS is a web-based platform designed to modernise operations, improve transparency and eliminate bottlenecks in the approval process. He said the system has achieved full operational readiness with 100 per cent training of personnel, complete deployment of computer systems and internet connectivity across all district offices.
He said: “The full automation of our planning permit process commenced on April 1, 2026. Let me be unequivocally clear: the manual processing of physical planning permits has been completely discontinued and outlawed in Lagos State.
“All applications must now go through the EPPPS platform exclusively. Anyone processing planning permits manually from this date is engaging in an illegal activity.
“We have provided the tools to do things the right way. Any attempt to revert to manual, backdoor processes is now strictly illegal, and the government will deal with this without hesitation.”
Dr. Babatunde said other landmark updates include the Certified Accreditor Programme (CAP), a public-private partnership aimed at strengthening building control and reducing incidents of structural failure; the Lagos State Geographic Information System Centre; and the introduction of the Omentum software for complete digitisation of land systems and titles to guarantee the integrity of the land registry and boost investors’ confidence.
The Special Adviser also revealed that the Lagos State Government is decentralising land administration services, with the Ikeja e-GIS regional office already operational and additional centres planned for Lekki, Epe, Badagry and Ikorodu.
Dr Babatunde further highlighted the deployment of Aumentum Software for land administration, describing it as a secure digital solution for processing Certificates of Occupancy and managing land records.
“We are aggressively moving away from the era of dusty files, long queues, and missing documents. This software guarantees the integrity of our land registry and significantly boosts investor confidence,” he said.
Dr. Babatunde explained that the integration of the Moola Tracker has simplified mortgage consent processing, reducing the procedure from 29 steps to just eight without introducing new fees.
“We are not adding any extra charges. We are simply bringing technology to solve the problem of delay and to encourage more people to safely leverage their properties,” he added.
The Special Adviser also emphasised that it is now compulsory for every standing building in Lagos State to have an insurance policy as well as a five-year certification of fitness, as Safety Marshals will be directed to commence building inspection soon, while no contractor must be on site without a letter of authorisation.
The post LASG Enforces Digital Building Permits, Declares Manual Process Illegal appeared first on Business Today NG.
BY NKECHI NAECHE-ESEZOBOR—Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc has disclosed an insider transaction involving one of its directors, Dr. Akinade Ogunbiyi, who sold more than 1.5 million shares in the insurance company in a deal valued at over ₦6.3 million.
The disclosure, signed by Jide Ibitayo, Company Secretary, filed with the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) and the investing public, showed that Ogunbiyi, a Non-Executive Director of the company, disposed of 1,507,309 ordinary shares of Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc between June 3 and June 9, 2026.
According to the notification, the shares were sold at prices ranging from ₦4.20 to ₦4.33 per share, placing the total value of the transaction at between ₦6.33 million and ₦6.53 million.
The transaction was reported as an initial notification of insider dealing in line with regulatory requirements that mandate directors and other insiders of listed companies to disclose transactions involving the securities of their companies.
Mutual Benefits Assurance identified the financial instrument involved in the transaction as its ordinary shares, traded on the Nigerian Exchange under the ticker symbol “MBENEFIT.”
Insider dealing notifications are a key component of market transparency and corporate governance, providing investors with information on share transactions undertaken by directors, executives, and other individuals with access to potentially price-sensitive information.
While insider transactions often attract investor attention, market analysts note that such dealings do not necessarily indicate changes in a company’s outlook, as they may be influenced by personal investment decisions, portfolio rebalancing, or other financial considerations.
The disclosed transaction took place in Lagos, Nigeria, and was executed over a seven-day period between June 3 and June 9, 2026.
Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc remains one of the companies listed on the Nigerian Exchange that regularly complies with insider dealing disclosure requirements, reinforcing transparency in the capital market.
The post Insider Dealing: Mutual Benefits Director, Ogunbiyi Sells Shares Worth Over ₦6.3 Million appeared first on Business Today NG.
The Federal Government has dismissed reports suggesting it plans to introduce new taxes on telecommunications services and petroleum products, saying the claims are false and misleading.
The Federal Ministry of Finance disclosed this on Wednesday in a statement signed by Maryann Duke, senior special assistant on communications and press secretary to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele.
It said the reports, which linked the proposed taxes to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Article IV Consultation on Nigeria, do not reflect its position.
According to the government, the recommendations contained in the IMF report are advisory and do not constitute policy decisions or binding actions for Nigeria.
“The Federal Government is not considering the introduction of any new taxes on telecommunications services or petroleum products,” the statement said.
Fuel tax rules remain unchanged.
The government also clarified that existing tax arrangements on petroleum products remain in place.
It said the Value Added Tax (VAT) waiver on fuel has not been removed and is still active.
It also explained that any fuel surcharge can only take effect through a ministerial order published in the Official Gazette, adding that no such action is being considered.
According to the statement, the current arrangements have helped cushion the impact of global fuel price changes on Nigerian households and businesses.
READ ALSO: NRS launches Rev360 to ease tax compliance
Telecoms excise duty
On telecommunications, the government said the excise duty introduced before 2023 has already been repealed under the new tax laws.
It added that the tax is, therefore, no longer in force.
The ministry urged Nigerians, media organisations and businesses to disregard claims about new telecoms and fuel taxes.
It said Nigeria’s tax policy remains focused on improving revenue collection, supporting economic growth, and attracting investment, rather than increasing the tax burden on citizens.
The ministry added that any future tax changes would be communicated through official channels and implemented strictly in line with due process.
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