The Lagos State Ministry of Housing has reiterated that allottees of state-owned housing estates must obtain prior approval before carrying out any external alterations or installing solar panels on allocated buildings and flats.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Abdulhafis Toriola, made this clarification in response to a recent social media post by a resident who questioned the Ministry’s Monitoring and Compliance Team over its demand for approval for solar panel installation during a routine inspection at the Lagos State Millennium Housing Estate, Ibeshe.
“An allottee must obtain approval from the Ministry for any intended alteration to the flat or building, and this includes the installation of solar panels,” Toriola said.
He explained that the requirement is clearly stated in the Letter of Allocation and Allottees’ Guide issued to beneficiaries at the point of purchase. According to him, the measure is necessary to protect shared assets such as rooftops, walls, and water installation systems, as well as to prevent fire incidents associated with poorly installed solar systems.
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Toriola noted that the Ministry introduced specific guidelines after solar panel installations began to pose challenges for both users and non-users in government estates.
“In recent times, the Ministry has had to intervene in fixing leaking rooftops and addressing incessant fire outbreaks caused by solar panel installations by some residents,” he said.
He further explained that government estates are designed as social housing schemes with interconnected shared facilities, with each block accommodating between two and 32 families.
“In order to minimise risks that could affect the entire building structure, the Ministry established regulations stipulating guidelines for installation, including the quality of materials such as cables and panel configuration, as well as the technical competence of installation personnel,” he added.
The Permanent Secretary said the guidelines are also aimed at protecting other occupants, ensuring insurance coverage against potential damage, and fairly allocating roof space to prevent disputes when multiple residents seek to install solar panels.
He added that the Ministry remains open to feedback from residents and, alongside ongoing public enlightenment campaigns across government estates, urged all allottees to seek clarification when necessary and comply with established procedures to ensure safety, structural integrity, and peaceful co-existence.