Lagos Government restates approval rules for solar panel installation in state-owned estates

Politics, Technology

LAGOS, Nigeria (NPA) — The Lagos State Government has reiterated that residents of government-owned housing estates must obtain official approval before installing solar panels or making external alterations to their allocated flats.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Housing, Engr. Abdulhafis Toriola, clarified the policy following concerns raised on social media by a resident of the Millennium Housing Estate, Ibeshe, during a routine inspection by the Ministry’s Monitoring and Compliance Team.

“An allottee must obtain approval from the Ministry for any intended alteration to the flat allocated and the building, and this includes installation of solar panels,” Toriola stated. He explained that the requirement, outlined in the Letter of Allocation and Allottees Guide, is designed to safeguard shared assets such as rooftops, walls, and water facilities, while preventing fire incidents linked to poorly executed solar installations.

According to him, the Ministry introduced specific guidelines after observing that unregulated solar panel installations were causing structural damage and fire outbreaks in some estates. “In recent times, the Ministry had to intervene in fixing leaking rooftops and incessant fire outbreaks caused by solar panel installation by some residents,” he noted.

Toriola emphasized that government estates are social housing schemes with shared facilities, often accommodating between two and thirty-two families per block. To minimize risks, the Ministry has stipulated standards for installation, including approved materials, panel configurations, and certified technical expertise.

The guidelines, he added, are designed to protect other flat owners, insulate the entire building with insurance against damages, and apportion appropriate roof space to all flat owners to prevent disputes when multiple occupants in a block seek to install solar panels on the same roof.

The Ministry also stressed its openness to feedback from residents. Beyond monthly public enlightenment campaigns in government estates, allottees are encouraged to reach out to the Ministry when in doubt and comply with established processes to ensure safety, structural integrity, and harmonious coexistence in all state-owned housing schemes.