News Update

The Lagos state government says permits and administrative fees for solar power installations apply only to residents of its social housing estates — not to private homeowners or tenants across the state.

The clarification follows a viral video showing officials of the Lagos state ministry of housing confronting a resident over solar panels installed on his home.

In the video shared on Tuesday, officials from the ministry’s monitoring and compliance unit were seen asking the resident to obtain approval and pay a fee before proceeding with the installation.

The incident triggered criticisms on social media, with some users warning that such requirements could discourage the adoption of renewable energy in a country facing persistent power outages.

Reacting in an X post on Wednesday, Wale Ajetunmobi, senior special assistant on media to Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, said the resident misunderstood the policy.

According to him, the state does not impose solar installation fees on all residents.

“This development is true, but the man who made the video seems to be misinformed about the Lagos state government’s guidelines for installing solar energy systems in social housing estates,” he said.

He explained that only residents living in government-owned social housing estates are charged administrative fees for alterations, including the installation of solar power systems.

Ajetunmobi said the requirement is linked to the government’s responsibility as facility manager of the estates, noting that solar installations are treated as structural alterations, especially when they affect shared spaces or the original design of buildings.

“Only residents living in government-owned social housing estates are charged administrative fees for alterations, such as the installation of a solar power system, before any additional development can be permitted,” he said.

“Any alteration must be processed through the physical planning and survey departments of the ministry of housing for approval, material compliance, and post-inspection checks.

“Those solar power systems are usually installed by occupants in shared areas; so this alteration must be approved by the facility manager (government) before any occupant can proceed.”

He added that the individual in the video is likely a tenant who rented one of the government-owned estates from the property owner and does not fully understand the terms of the indemnity document.

Ajetunmobi said the officials seen in the video were from the ministry’s monitoring and compliance unit, adding that the resident did not obtain prior approval before commencing installation.

He said the government previously handled liabilities arising from unapproved modifications, including cases involving roof damage and fire incidents.

“He is likely to be a tenant in one of these social housing estates owned by the Lagos state government,” he said.

“Otherwise, he wouldn’t have raised concerns about something that was clearly outlined in the indemnity document he signed before the government handed over the apartment to him after purchase.

“The simple rule for any estate occupant is to contact the state government (facility manager) for approval for any external alteration.”

He added that unapproved changes affecting shared property could expose the government to liabilities involving other residents.

Under the Lagos state urban and regional planning and development law, structural changes to buildings require approval from relevant authorities.