The Lagos State Government says residents living in its social housing estates must obtain approval and pay administrative fees before altering their flats, including installing solar power systems, after a viral video showed officials confronting a resident over a rooftop installation.
Wale Ajetunmobi said on Wednesday that the uproar was driven by a misunderstanding of the state’s rules. He said the government does not charge all residents in Lagos for permission to install solar power systems at home, only those in government-owned social housing estates where any change must go through the Physical Planning and Survey departments of the Ministry of Housing for approval, material compliance and post-inspection checks.
“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,” Ajetunmobi said. He added that “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.”
The dispute began on Tuesday, when a viral video showed officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Housing confronting a resident over solar panels installed on his home. The resident had not obtained prior approval before starting the installation, according to the ministry’s account. Abdulhafis Toriola said all allottees of Lagos State-owned housing estates must seek and obtain approval before external alterations or solar panel installation on allocated buildings and flats, and that the requirement is already contained in the Letter of Allocation and Allottees Guide issued at the point of purchase.
The ministry said the estates are social housing interventions with connected shared assets and facilities, which is why alterations are regulated to protect rooftops, walls and water installation facilities. Ajetunmobi said those solar power systems are usually installed in shared areas, making approval from the facility manager necessary before any occupant can proceed.
The clarification also came after social media criticism that the fees could discourage renewable energy adoption. But the ministry said the rules are meant to prevent damage, not block solar use, pointing to recent interventions in fixing leaking rooftops and fire outbreaks linked to solar panel installation by some residents. As the argument settles, the state’s position is now clear: solar power is allowed in its housing estates, but not without approval first.
