The Lagos State Government has clarified that permits and administrative charges for installing solar power systems do not apply to all residents, but are limited to occupants of government-owned social housing estates.
The clarification followed a viral video shared on April 21 showing officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Housing confronting a resident over solar panel installation in a state-owned estate. In the video, the officials from the Monitoring and Compliance Unit were seen insisting on approval and payment of fees before the installation could continue.
The incident sparked public criticism, with concerns that such requirements could discourage the use of renewable energy in a country already struggling with unstable electricity supply, where many households are turning to solar power.
Reacting to the development, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Wale Ajetunmobi, said the situation had been misunderstood.
According to him, the affected resident is likely a tenant in one of the state’s social housing estates and had agreed to certain conditions before taking possession of the property.
“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.
Ajetunmobi explained that the policy does not extend to private homeowners across Lagos, stressing that only residents in government-owned estates are required to obtain approval and pay administrative charges before carrying out modifications such as solar installations.
“Only residents living in the 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 added.
He noted that such approvals are necessary because the government is responsible for maintaining the infrastructure in those estates, and any modification must go through the Ministry of Housing’s Physical Planning and Survey departments for inspection and compliance.
According to him, installations in shared or structural areas require official approval from facility managers before work can begin.
Ajetunmobi also confirmed that the officials seen in the viral clip were from the Monitoring and Compliance Unit and said the resident did not obtain prior approval before beginning the installation.
He further stated that the government has previously dealt with issues caused by unapproved modifications, including roof damage and fire incidents in some estates.
