The Lagos State Government has directed property owners who have yet to pay their 2025 Land Use Charge to clear all outstanding bills, warning that enforcement against defaulters will begin soon.

The directive accompanied the release of the 2026 Land Use Charge bills, announced in a statement from the Ministry of Finance. The government said the charge remains a critical revenue stream for funding infrastructure and public services across the state.

Authorities urged compliant property owners to take advantage of a 15 per cent early payment discount on the new 2026 bills by paying within the stipulated window. At the same time, the government signalled a tougher stance on those who ignored last year’s obligations, stressing that enforcement measures on 2025 arrears are imminent.

The ministry described the Land Use Charge as central to Lagos’ ability to build and maintain key assets such as roads, bridges, healthcare facilities, schools and security infrastructure. It linked taxpayer contributions to flagship transport projects including the Lagos Rail Mass Transit Blue and Red Lines, which are designed to cut travel times and ease congestion across the metropolis.

According to the statement, Land Use Charge revenues have also underpinned the construction and rehabilitation of strategic roads, expansion and modernisation of hospitals, and strengthened security initiatives aimed at creating a safer environment for residents and businesses.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Tajudeen Mahmud, underscored that paying the charge is both a legal and civic duty. He noted that every compliant property owner helps to deliver better roads, improved healthcare, quality education, enhanced security and a cleaner urban environment.

The government reiterated that landlords and property owners, not tenants, are solely responsible for settling Land Use Charge liabilities in Lagos, a position it has maintained to resolve long-running disputes between landlords and tenants over who should bear the cost.

To ease compliance, the ministry listed multiple payment channels, including internet banking, commercial bank branches, USSD codes, Point of Sale terminals at Land Use Charge offices, the Lagos Online Assistant WhatsApp platform and the Lagos Revenue Portal. Property owners were encouraged to use any of these options promptly to avoid penalties and enforcement actions.