…As Lawyers, Surveyors Cry Out over Bottleneck Operations
Professionals in Lagos State’s legal and real estate sectors are raising the alarm over what they describe as crippling inefficiencies at the Lagos State Bureau of Lands, with frustration mounting to the point where protests are being openly discussed.
Lawyers and estate surveyors — key players in title perfection and property documentation — say the Bureau’s current operational system has “reduced them to nothing,” creating a bottleneck that now threatens Lagos’ vibrant property market.
The crisis, stakeholders explain, began with the migration to Aumentum, an automated platform designed to handle land applications online. In theory, the system was meant to make transactions seamless. In practice, however, poor connectivity and alleged internal sabotage have paralysed operations.
According to findings, applicants now face lengthy delays just to file documents, obtain charting assessments, or secure enforcement approvals. Insiders allege that some applicants are forced to “grease palms” at the so-called MTN building to move files forward.
“If there is fraud in the ministry, as rumoured, the authorities should go after the culprits. Every application carries an official letterhead with contact numbers. Why punish professionals instead? Cueing under the sun just to enter the Lands Bureau is humiliating,” one source fumed.
The Bureau currently opens its doors to the public only three days a week (Tuesdays–Thursdays) between 12 pm and 4 pm. Access to departments is controlled by limited “tags,” which many describe as another unnecessary hurdle.
“The tags are not enough to go round. One tag only gets you into one department. If you need another department, you must return and hope another tag is available — most times, it isn’t. This is deliberate frustration,” an angry lawyer complained.
For many professionals, this means spending entire working days at the Bureau for tasks that should take mere hours.
“This situation is unsustainable. Most of our productive time is wasted here, and it’s affecting both our livelihoods and the clients we serve,” lamented an estate valuer.
Ordinary citizens are not spared from the chaos. A property owner seen at the Bureau premises on Tuesday expressed anger over the endless delays.
“They can do better if they want to. This is not inefficiency; it is wickedness. Why should something so basic be this difficult in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub?” the client asked rhetorically.
Industry insiders warn that the inefficiencies have created fertile ground for exploitation, where only those with connections or extra payments can fast-track their files.
“We cannot continue like this. If the Permanent Secretary and the Lagos State Government fail to act, we may have no choice but to take our grievances to the streets,” one surveyor told Newsheadline247.
Professionals argue that beyond personal inconvenience, the Bureau’s dysfunction is slowing down real estate development and legal transactions in Lagos, a state that drives much of Nigeria’s property sector growth.
They claimed that the Bureau had not made any public statement regarding the ongoing issue or addressed their situation.
Sources further alleged that the silence of the Bureau’s Permanent Secretary, Mr Karmal Olowosago, is exacerbating the situation. The stakeholders are concerned about his indifference to their issues and have urged the state governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to intervene in the brewing crisis.
Observers warn that unless Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration intervenes quickly, the brewing discontent among lawyers, surveyors, and clients could spill into open demonstrations in the coming weeks, further denting investor confidence in Lagos’ booming real estate market.