Lagos Govt reduces Land Use Charge

The Lagos State Government has announced the reduction in the Land Use Charge.

Reports say the reduction was part of the conclusions reached at the meeting of the Lagos State Executive Council chaired by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Thursday (today).

The state government had jacked up the charges payable by 400% as enabled by the Land Use Charge Law of 2018.Sequel to the reduction, therefore, the government has done the following:

• Cut commercial charges by 50 percent
• Reduced charges for owner-occupier with third party — including industries and manufacturing concerns by 25 percent
• Waived penalty for late payments across board
• Given tax credits for LUC charges already paid
• Introduced Installment Payment System Stake holders had criticised the increment of the LUC, insisting that it was capable of affecting business and the general financial wellbeing of Lagos residents.

Such stakeholders included the Organised Private Sector, Nigeria Bar Association, real estate investors & developers,landlord & resident associations, community development associations, Civil Society Organisations, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Nigeria Institute of Estate Surveyors &Valuers and several other professional groups.

Now, commercial property owners will be granted 50 percent discount. This means a commercial property valued at N20m which was earlier billed N91,200 will now pay N45,600 per annum.

Property occupied by owner and third party and property used for industrial and manufacturing purposes will now enjoy 25 percent discount. This means that a N20m property expected to pay N30,720 will now pay N23,040 per annum.

Owner-occupied property will enjoy 15 percent discount. So, for a N20m property, this used to be N9,120. Now, it is N7,752 per annum.