₦airaland Forum

The clarification followed a viral video in which officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Housing were seen confronting a resident over solar panels installed in a state-owned estate.

by Emmanuel Agbo


The Lagos State Government has clarified that permits and administrative fees for installing solar power systems apply only to residents of its social housing estates, not to private homeowners across the state.

The clarification followed a viral video in which officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Housing were seen confronting a resident over solar panels installed in a state-owned estate, allegedly demanding a permit and payment before he could proceed with the installation in his apartment.

The video, shared on 21 April, shows officials from the ministry’s Monitoring and Compliance Unit asking the resident to obtain approval and pay a fee, despite his decision to adopt solar power as an alternative to unreliable electricity supply.

The incident has drawn criticism, with some observers warning that such requirements could discourage the adoption of renewable energy, particularly in a country grappling with chronic power shortages where many households increasingly rely on solar solutions.

Responding on Wednesday in a statement, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Wale Ajetunmobi, said the resident appeared to have misunderstood the policy.

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

He stressed that the state does not impose solar installation fees on all residents.

“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 said.

According to him, the requirement is tied to the government’s responsibility for maintaining facilities in those estates.

He explained that solar installations are treated as structural alterations, particularly where they affect shared spaces or the original design of buildings.

“Any alteration must be run 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 stated.

Mr Ajetunmobi also said the officials seen in the viral video were from the Monitoring and Compliance Unit of the Ministry of Housing, adding that the resident did not obtain prior approval before commencing the installation.

He noted that the government had previously dealt with liabilities arising from unapproved modifications, including cases involving roof damage and fire incidents.

“The simple rule for any estate occupant is to contact the State Government (facility manager) for approval for any external alteration,” he said, warning that unapproved changes affecting shared property could leave the government liable to other residents.

Under the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law, structural changes to buildings typically require approval from relevant authorities, a provision officials say also applies to installations that may affect the integrity or design of residential structures.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/874024-lagos-confirms-solar-permit-fees-in-viral-video-makes-clarifications.html

This is very simple, it's global practice.
I don't understand why people go crazy over little issues.

I knew it, it's just a function of time before we start paying for solar permit

tanigororo:
I knew it, it's just a function of time before we start paying for solar permit

Just try and read na... All in the name of "first to comment," you simply failed to read and understand before rushing to respond.

If nigeria was a monopolised and free country, Lagos would be sovereign and independent just like hong kong.

There is a saying; na from clap Dem dey take enter dance. This is how they start, before you know it they move to private individuals, they are using this to test the waters.

You refuse to provide steady electricity and you have the guts to impose a levy on someone who has decided to provide electricity for themselves using God given natural sunlight, simply because he lives in a public housing estate which he has purchased? Even satan will be impressed at this level of wickedness.

All solar installations should be under discos who should be free to connect the power to other users while paying the owner of the installation. The owner of the installation too should be metered

This move can guarantee power for Nigerians for when the sun is up

Well it's a government estate

lawani:
All solar installations should be under discos who should be free to connect the power to other users while paying the owner of the installation. The owner of the installation too should be metered

This move can guarantee power for Nigerians for when the sun is up

This is the standard practice in sane nations like where I once resided but should never be practiced in Nigeria where government and everything that has to do with it is known for failure.



Lagos state and taxing every damn thing yet cannot provide excellent roads and security for its residents, ire oh

I even thought it's his personal property

franchasng:
This is the standard practice in sane nations like where I once resided but should never be practiced in Nigeria where government and everything that has to do with it is known for failure.



Lagos state and taxing every damn thing yet cannot provide excellent roads and security for its residents, ire oh

So something that is standard practice all over the world should not be done in Lagos or Nigeria? But that is like saying this is the only way but you must not use it!

Stifle, stifle and then stifle some more.

Alteration? Understandable

Hahahahaha. Solar permit fees kwa. Very soon they will tax us on the air we breathe. Awon wehrehs

Ofcourse, you will test run it in your private estates first then roll it out statewide later on. We know the game.

They will not give you electricity

And when you eventually manage to provide yourself with electricity

They all come out with all sorts of clauses just to tax you to death

That's just the reality of the matter

What a sad story!

Nonsense, you cannot provide light yet you want to frustrate them

Same way you frustrate the building sectors with multiple building permits yet still levy them heavily and collect their lands

Dem don dey test the waters first.

Lagosians should brace up for the eventuality.

They're just in the test phase to see how owners will fight back. Soon, they'll spread the love to all lagosians..

Motto: tax them to deatth

They will soon start collecting money on fuels you buy from the filling station per litre. You buy 1 litre, you pay 30% tax on it. This is how madness starts small small.

A very disgraceful government. You can't give the citizens ordinary basic light which is their right and your duty as an elected body, now they went for God given energy, you're still charging them. Shame

Islie:
The clarification followed a viral video in which officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Housing were seen confronting a resident over solar panels installed in a state-owned estate.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/874024-lagos-confirms-solar-permit-fees-in-viral-video-makes-clarifications.html

Government collects taxes generally from the public, steals the money and fails to provide services and utilities, and then goes ahead with additional levies for those who strive to make their own electricity and water supply.

Is this what it means to be a Nigerian and a black person

Is there any need for us to have local, state or federal government?

Exousiang01:
This is very simple, it's global practice.
I don't understand why people go crazy over little issues.

Stop assuming the madnes to be global practice. In some countries govt pay solar owners because they pour in the excess power generated to the grid. Use your brain to think for once

lawani:
So something that is standard practice all over the world should not be done in Lagos or Nigeria? But that is like saying this is the only way but you must not use it!

Did you see the reason why he thinks it won’t work on Nigeria?

You think it’s not a valid reason?

Hong Kong is not a sovereign or independent city. It's an autonomous part of China, like many other places.

Suicideboy:
If nigeria was a monopolised and free country, Lagos would be sovereign and independent just like hong kong.

Exousiang01:
This is very simple, it's global practice.
I don't understand why people go crazy over little issues.

You really can't recover from this shackle.

Government should rather incentivise Nigerians to install solar systems whether in social housing or privately owned.

Looking for every avenue to make money...
Give the people light No.
You provide your own light, your own water, and your own security...
What exactly is the work of the government

Exousiang01:
This is very simple, it's global practice.
I don't understand why people go crazy over little issues.

Is it also global practice for people to hustle to pay private school fees for their children and drink water from shitty boreholes, after the state government grows budget 100 times from increasing tax burden

cucumbar:
Did you see the reason why he thinks it won’t work on Nigeria?

You think it’s not a valid reason?

Franchasng is someone who thinks black people are not fully capable humans according to his posts here. I don't believe his reasons are valid reasons

franchasng:
This is the standard practice in sane nations like where I once resided but should never be practiced in Nigeria where government and everything that has to do with it is known for failure.



Lagos state and taxing every damn thing yet cannot provide excellent roads and security for its residents, ire oh

Please mention that sane country that it's practiced where the residents pay government for providing alternative source of electricity for their individual selfs.....!!

Please mention that place you were so called resident....
Thank you.

Like we are cooked in this country