Abiodun’s End-of-Year Gift: 50% Rebate for Unapproved Buildings Across Ogun State

Abiodun’s End-of-Year Gift: 50% Rebate for Unapproved Buildings Across Ogun State

By Our Reporter

As the year is gradually drawing to a close, Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has given residents a reason to smile — announcing an amnesty and 50% rebate on planning permit penalties for buildings constructed without official approval across the state.

The new policy, described by many as a bold and people-centered initiative, offers property owners an opportunity to regularize their buildings and avoid the stiff penalties previously attached to unapproved developments.

According to a statement signed by the Honourable Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, TPl. Olatunji Odunlami (FNITP), the gesture is part of the Governor’s continuous efforts to encourage compliance while easing the financial burden on citizens.

“His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has graciously granted amnesty to offenders of the Ogun State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law who have built without planning permits across the state,” Odunlami said.

Under the new arrangement, offenders who would normally pay double the planning permit fee for commercial, industrial, and other developments — or an equivalent of the permit fee for residential buildings — will now enjoy a 50% rebate on those penal charges.

The amnesty window opens from November 1, 2025, to January 31, 2026, providing a three-month grace period for individuals and corporate bodies to regularize their property documentation with the Ogun State Planning and Development Permit Authority and its zonal offices.

Urban development experts have lauded the initiative as a strategic step towards promoting orderly growth and reducing illegal structures, while also enhancing government revenue in a non-punitive manner.

“This is a win-win situation. It encourages compliance, helps residents come into the legal fold, and supports the state’s long-term vision for sustainable urban development,” said a planning consultant in Abeokuta.

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This is a win-win situation. It encourages compliance, helps residents come into the legal fold, and supports the state’s long-term vision for sustainable urban development

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Many residents have also described the announcement as a welcome relief in the face of rising construction costs and economic pressures. For them, the move signals a compassionate leadership style and a deliberate attempt to strengthen the relationship between government and citizens.

Governor Abiodun’s administration has consistently emphasized urban renewal and environmental discipline as part of its development agenda. The latest amnesty policy reinforces that commitment — not through sanctions, but through incentives and inclusion.

Property owners are then urged to take advantage of this opportunity by visiting the Planning and Development Permit Authority headquarters or zonal planning offices for guidance on how to benefit from the concession.

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