Creation of liveable city dictates review of existing Model City plans —Lagos officials

In view of the reality that business construction in the physical planning environment begins with realistic development planning that can foster greater degree of efficiency in land utilisation, the Lagos State government has hinted that some of the existing model city plans would be subjected to review.

“Other factors that necessitate the review exercise are that realistic development plan, apart from producing functionality of places and aesthetic quality, would also provide room for a live-able environment, which is a major challenge associated with megacity and which the Lagos government want to confront headlong,” said the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr Wasiu Anifowoshe.

According to Anifowoshe, while giving the stewardship of his ministry’s activities in the last two years, said Lagos requires development plans and guides to facilitate town and city planning, provision of infrastructure, utilities and services, create order, in place of chaotic experience that once characterised the metropolis and conservation of environmental needs capable of bringing a conducive environment.

He noted that during the period under review, three master plans were commissioned for preparation and execution. These are Epe, Ikorodu and Oshodi-Isolo master plans.

Besides, Anifowoshe also said that Ikeja Model City Plan is also being reviewed, adding that these model city plans would augment the Apapa, Agege/Ifako-Ijaye, while Ikoyi-Victoria Island Model City Plan would also reviewed.

To ensure that the entire segments of the state are incorporated into the vision, the Commissioner informed that Kosofe Model city plan, the harbinger of Mile 12 relocation is in the pipeline, “while a special strategy plan for Lagos Island would be undertaking in due course to complete the entire state.”

As part of government to ensure seamless development that is congruence to megacity imperatives, by preventing haphazard physical development, there is a thorough guides on the processing of approval layouts for public and private estates, including development guides for villages excision.

“In the last 23 months, the Ministry had processed and granted 30 provisional layouts and 28 final layout approvals.

“Besides, the ministry has also embarked on the preparation of development guide plans in three locations, namely: Igborosun excised village in Badagry; Ikola-Odunsi in Alimosho, with 13 villages, granted approval-in-principle within Ikorodu, Ibeju-Lekki and Eti-Osa, LGA’s respectively.”

On introduction of cable cars to reduce traffic situation in the metropolis, the commissioner said the project is  still on course, adding that  the ministry has got an approval  from Governor Akinwunmi  Ambode to present the proposal  at  State’s  Executive Council’s meeting.  Once satisfied, the commissioner assured that the project is going to commence.

In the last one year, Anifowoshe said that the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), has served a total of 5,499 structures with contravention and stop work orders, adding that between May 2016 and February, 2017, a total of 2,340 plans were submitted while 1,078 plans were granted planning permits.

He also reiterated the commitment of government to the successful relocation process of Okobaba sawmill in Ebute-Metta to Timberville in Agbowa/Ikosi Ejinrin Local Council Development Area.

He explained that government has put necessary infrastructure in place to ensure that operation of sawmillers take-off, adding that their relocation will commence soon.

The commissioner hinted that plan on top gear to relocate Computer Village to ICT park Katangowa in Agbado/Okeodo LCDA, adding that the relocation would deliver a world class computer and allied activities Park.

“The process leading to the commencement of the development is presently in concluding phase. We have also commenced work on the relocation of Anikantamo Plank Market Lagos Island to Idera City Scheme in Ibeju-Lekki,” Anifowoshe said.

He also stated that work has reached advanced stage on the relocation of Mile 12 market to Imota in Ikorodu axis.

On various demolitions across the state for right-of –way and overriding public purposes, he said the state government has paid necessary compensation to building owners

Another area the Commissioner touched at the press ministerial conference, commemoration the second year of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in office was the issue of underground water pollution that necessitated the suspension of approval of filling stations’ construction in the state.

According to Anifowoshe, the  directive was to forestall possible underground water pollution occasioned by  pipeline leakages and vandalisation  in residential area in many parts of  the state, noting that a committee has been commissioned to take inventory of all existing filling stations in the state, and that until  such  inventory is  completed, no  approval would be granted to intending  developers of  petrol stations.

It would be recalled underground water pollution due to petroleum products has been rampant in some parts o Alimosho, Ejigbo and Ikotun areas of the state.

Before now, the General Manager of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, (LASEPA) Mr Adebola Shabi, an engineer, hinted that petrol stations have been mandated to provide separate wells to prevent underground water pollution.

Shabi noted that underground water was being polluted with chemicals and petroleum products, adding that majority of boreholes and wells in the state were contaminated with petroleum products.

He added that the agency came up with the decision to end contamination of underground water by ensuring that petrol stations provided monitoring wells.