The Lagos State government has said residents of its housing estates across the state are not authorised to install solar panels without first obtaining approval from the appropriate quarters.
A statement issued on Wednesday by the Director of Public Affairs in the Lagos State Ministry of Housing, Mr Ganiu Lawal, gave this clarification.
This arose from a recent social media post by a resident who raised concerns over the Ministry’s Monitoring and Compliance Team’s demand for solar panel installation approval during a routine operation at the Lagos State Millennium Housing Estate, Ibeshe.
In the statement, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr Abdulhafis Toriola, explained that residents are not allowed to make alterations in government-owned housing schemes to protect shared assets, prevent fire incidents and structural damage.
“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,” he stated.
Mr Toriola, an Engineer, further explained that the requirement, which is contained in the Letter of Allocation and Allottees Guide issued to all beneficiaries at the point of purchase, also aims to prevent fire incidents linked to unprofessionally installed solar systems.
According to him, the ministry was compelled to develop specific guidelines after solar panel installations began to create more problems than benefits for both users and non-users within government 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 said.
The senior government official noted that government estates are social housing interventions designed with connected shared assets and facilities for residents, with blocks of flats housing between two and thirty-two families.
“In order to minimise risk that will affect the entire building structure, the Ministry made regulations to stipulate guidelines for installation, the quality of materials such as cables and panel configuration, and the technical know-how of the installation personnel,” he added.
The guidelines, he said, 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.
He disclosed that the ministry was open to feedback from residents always, urging all allottees to reach out to the ministry when in doubt and comply with the established process to ensure safety, structural integrity, and harmonious coexistence in all state-owned housing estates.