Lagos property identification to boost infrastructure development
Dachi Maduako, Lagos
Governor Babatunde Fashola,
Lagos StateThe second phase of the Lagos State government Property Identification Exercise (PIE) just launched has been described as a means that would enhance the pace of infrastructure development in the state.
Apart from this, the State has said the initiative would also remove the incidents of multiple property taxation.
It will be recalled that the exercise was started by the Bola Tinubu administration in 2001. The present administration, however, has vowed to continue with the scheme thereby build on the foundation already laid.
The scheme, which is under the state’s Ministry of Finance is however, being promoted by Messrs Land Records Company Limited. The scheme had earlier been confronted by the organised private sector on the issues of multiple taxation and legal cases on property rates under the Tinubu’s administration.
But under the new format of PIE, the variables have changed to include, using the scheme for revenue generation, plough back finances generated for infrastructure such as education, health and roads.
Explaing the process, the Managing Director, Land Records Company Limited, Mr Omodele Ibrahim said the PIE scheme was a partnership between the state and local governments to bring about a cooperative approach for development of the State.
From the information obtained, provision would be made for infrastructure within particular councils areas as number of houses will determine the number of schools, hospital to be sited, volume of portable water needed for the area, roads to be tarred, area to be opened, general provision of social services to be provided among others.
Ibrahim stated that the exercise would also assist in proper valuation of properties in the state.He said, “Since PIE cannot be done in one swoop that is, coverage by PIE is from one local government to another, so tenement rate still substitutes in those areas not yet visited. The Land Use charge law anticipates that enumeration is a gradual process”.
He pointed out that immediately this comes into effect in any area when charge is levied on a property, the land based rate law, which consists of ground rent, development charges, tenement rate law and neighborhood improvement charges shall cease to apply to the property. He added that until that is done tenement rate would continue to be paid as no vacuum is to be created. The enumeration, he said, was a process of gathering information to the determined charges.
Among the major goals of PIE are to obtain relevant information on issues regarding properties in the state to ensure efficient planning for development; arriving at scientific approach for distribution of social services-health, roads, water; updating of land records registry; and for sharing of information among various agencies of government.
Ibrahim further disclosed that the second phase, of the programme, which is targeting the enumeration of more than 700,000 properties, has formed the bases for the implementation of the Land Use Charge in the state.
Work is currently ongoing is in 15 areas, subdivided into six geographical zones. These are:
Ikeja zone- Ikeja, Ifako – Ijaiye, Agege, Kosofe.
Surulere zone- Surulere, Oshodi – Isolo, Mushin, Shomolu.
Alimosho zone-Alimosho, Amuwo Odofin, Ojo, Badagry.
Eti-Osa zone- Lagos Island, Eti- Osa.
Apapa zone- Lagos Mainland, Ajeromi –Ifelodun, Apapa.
Epe zone- Epe, Ikorodu, Ibeju Lekki.
Already, the enumerating firm has mobilized over 180 staff and plans to have regional development offices in all the councils in the State to enhance output while agreement has been reached with all local governments to ensure good working relationship as all the data gathered during the exercise will be relevant for working in the councils.
