PHYSICAL PLANNING: EDO COMMISSIONER IN LAGOS ON STUDY TOUR
The Lagos State Physical Planning and Urban Development Ministry has continued to attract visits of its counterparts in other parts of the Federation, including Edo State, whose Commissioner for Physical Planning, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs. Isoken Ọmọ was in Lagos on a study to the Ministry.
The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, who received his Edo State counterpart during her visit to the Ministry at Alausa on Thursday, said that Lagos State had a lot to offer its peers as far as physical planning is concerned, adding that the state had, over the years, demonstrated resilient management strategies in the sector.
He said that the peculiar social and economic situation of Lagos State had uniquely positioned her to continuously devise appropriate measures to address myriad challenges confronting the attainment of a livable, organised, and sustainable built environment.
The Commissioner, who cited the example of the creation of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) from the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) in response to building collapse in the State, said that the Ministry had evolved to meet the ever-increasing regulatory pressure in the built environment of Lagos State.
His words: “The Ministry, as presently constituted, is poised to meet the yearning of the people. It has two policy-formulating offices, at the apex – the Office of Physical Planning and the Office of Urban Development.
“It also has four implementing agencies, including the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA), the Lagos State Planning and Environmental Monitoring Authority (LASPEMA), the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) and the Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency (LASURA)”.
He added that the Administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had given physical planning its pride of place with massive investment in Operative Development Plans, including Master Plans, Model City Plans, Action Area Plans, and Development Guide Plans, to birth an orderly, organised and sustainable built environment.
The Director, Technical Services, Office of Physical Planning, Tpl. Bola Aliu stated that the visit of the Edo State Commissioner was a welcome development as the two states had a lot to learn from each other as far as planning the physical environment was concerned, adding that physical planning plays a crucial role in shaping the development and sustainability of cities.
Major Departments and Units in the Office of Physical Planning explained their mandates and achievements to the visitors, detailing their roles in preparing Physical Development Plans, granting layout approvals and delivering the Right of Way for public projects in the State among others.
Earlier, the Edo State Commissioner for Physical Planning, Housing and Urban Urban Development, Mrs. Isoken Ọmọ explained the purpose of her visit, noting that she needed to understudy the Lagos model as the State had demonstrated leadership in regulating the built sector.
She was full of appreciation for the insightful knowledge and experience gained from the visit. The Commissioner, therefore, called for a summit of Physical Planning and Urban Development Ministries in Nigeria to facilitate knowledge sharing and engender progress across board.