Lagos completes review of new Ikeja model city plan

In furtherance of its urban renewal programme, Lagos State government has announced the completion of revision of the Ikeja Model City Plan just as it reiterated the determination to bequeath a sustainable environment to the people.

Besides, officials say inputs, comments, observations from people became imperative to ensure that the programme after implementation produces a friendly environment, thus, the need for public presentation.

The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development (PPUD) in Lagos, Mr Abiola Anifowoshe, an architect, while presenting the final draft of the revised plan to stakeholders and the public, said there was need for useful inputs, comments and observations that may be incorporated into the plan.

“For the final draft to be implemented, government is ready to entertain comments, values and advice that would be beneficial and assist in finalising of the ongoing revision of the Ikeja Model City Plan (MCP),” said Anifowoshe.

While emphasising government’s determination to produce Strategic Master Plans for the whole of Lagos as envisioned in the Lagos State Development Plan (2012-2025), the commissioner said that out of the 12 new development plans being proposed for the state, eight are already operational.

He listed Lekki Comprehensive Master Plan, Badagry Master Plan, Ikoyi-Victoria Island Model City Plan, Ikeja Model City Plan, Apapa Model City Plan, Lagos Mainland Model City Plan, Alimosho Model City Plan and Agege Model City Plan while three others, Epe, Ikorodu and Oshodi-Isolo Master/Model City Plans, are at different stages of completion, adding that master plan for Kosofe would commence later in the year.

Speaking on the factors that necessitated the review of the existing Ikeja Model City Plan, Anifowoshe was of the view that contemporary physical planning challenges and the inability of the existing Ikeja MCP (2008 – 2018) to solve emerging planning problems call for its review.

He described the plan as the second among the operative development plans to be reviewed after Ikoyi-Victoria Island Model City plan that was reviewed in 2015.

“Various issues bordering on departures from prescribed land uses of the extant MCP in form of illegal conversion and proliferation of unauthorized developments such as: event centres, club houses, establishment of places of worship and other informal activities which has inadvertently generated traffic congestion, illegal parking and pollution of various kinds amongst others, required the review of existing environment,” said Anifowoshe.

The newly revised Ikeja Model City Plan is therefore according to the commissioner, an attempt to promote a conducive environment through a qualitative land use appropriation, urban regeneration with improved accessibility to physical and- social infrastructure that will guarantee efficient and improved economic investment climate in Ikeja.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mrs Boladele Dapo-Thomas said the proposed plan is at the public presentation level open to inputs, comments, ideas and observations for incorporation into the on-going revision exercise saying it would boost the acceptability and implementation ratings of the reviewed plan in line with global best practices

While describing the review as necessary and timely, she added that the existing Ikeja Model City Plan has been comprehensively evaluated and the challenges inherent therein have been meticulously studied.

“This review is necessitated by changes; hence, innovative recommendations subject to global best practices in contemporary planning concepts are adopted and contained in the report,” Dapo-Thomas said.

It would be recalled that the ministry has since the assumption of the present administration emphasised the recognition of planning as people-cantered in Lagos State, it therefore called on members of the general public to actively participate in the review since it is meant for them.