Former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, has flayed what he observed as the excessive number of agencies regulating construction in the state, arguing that such development creates obstacles for investors in the state.
Fashola, who is also the former Minister of Power and Housing, gave this stand on Tuesday, while delivering the keynote address at the two-day Physical Planning Summit, themed ‘Rethinking Lagos: A New Vision for a Regional and Integrated Mega City’, organised by the state Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.
The former minister acknowledged the efforts of current Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in improving infrastructure, but emphasis the the ed the need to streamline the permitting process in the state by reducing the number of regulatory agencies, even as he highlighted the importance of establishing talent support facilities to address youth unemployment,
Speaking further, Fashola called on the state government to expedite action on the completion of Epe Waste Collector and Recycling plant, and the one at Olusosun, as well as Adiyan Water project, phase two.
Besides, he equally called on Governor Sanwo-Olu to execute more housing projects and reclaim the BRT lanes, saying that he should put a stop to what he observed as tyranny of motorcyclists popularly referred to as Okada riders, among others must stop.
The former Minister, while making the call, quickly recalled how he as then governor had to use veto power during Sate Executive meeting to have BRT scaled hurdles for the betterment of transport system in the state, maintaining that the proliferation of of Okada, tricycles and korope was in conflict with what was envisioned on climate change.
“The government will have to reclaim the BRT from the tyranny of motorcyclists, tricyclists and korope. I saw hesitancy during my time. The power of the governor can be used in order to be a good bully. We must reclaim the BRT, we spent a lot of money to build it.”
On youth unemployment, the former governor implored the state government to expand waterways transportation and embrace sports and entertainment as panacea to addressing the menace.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, who opened the summit, described the theme as crucial for reshaping Lagos’s future and realizing the vision of a smart city.
Sanwo-Olu encouraged town planners to adopt innovative practices that aligned with international standards to support his administration’s T.H.E.M.E.S PLUS agenda for transforming Lagos into a 21st-century mega city.
Meanwhile, Governor Sanwo-Olu, who acknowledged his predecessor’s impactful achievements on which his successors continued to build on, reiterated that the town planners must be placed in the rightful position.
He, however, extended the provision of amnesty for owners and developers of existing buildings without planning approvals till December 31st in the State.
Also speaking, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, the State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, noted that the summit aimed to position the state for investment opportunities as outlined in the Operative Development Plans (ODPs).
“The Summit is aimed at better positioning the state for investment as proposed in the ODPs. It has brought experts in urban planning, resilience, development partnership, legal and policy analysis, risk management, project finance and governance to explore options available for implementation of sustainable development,” he said.
The commissioner explained that OPDs had been exploited by the Governor Sanwo-Olu to be “very responsive to the need for an orderly, organized, livable and sustainable environment, saying that he had demonstrated it by a dogged implementation of the THEMES+ Agenda especially the Making Lagos a 21st century Economy Pillar
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