Still on Ibadan city master plan

A master plan is a long-term perspective guiding the sustainable, planned development of the city. On March 27, the draft copies of Ibadan City Master Plan (ICMP) were presented to Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State by the  representatives of Design and Architecture Bureau Consulting Engineers led by the Project Manager, Mr. Yann Leclerq.

The master plan set out the direction in which the development of Ibadan will go in the next 20 years.

This master plan is aimed at ensuring solid planning for Ibadan ahead of its population that is anticipated to soar to 11.3 million by 2036. The Ibadan City master plan covers the original 11 local government areas:-Ibadan North, Ibadan North-East, Ibadan North-West, Ibadan South-East and Ibadan South-West, Akinyele, Egbeda, Iddo, Lagelu, Ona Ara and Oluyole.

This master plan must not just be produced; it should be implemented. Many of the issues that we are currently facing in Ibadan are due to the lack of a comprehensive master plan.

Unfortunately, whether there is a plan or not, the city continues to grow. It is an indisputable fact that the rapid population growth and urbanisation being witnessed in Ibadan have been largely uncontrolled and haphazard in nature, as there was no conscious planning or a master plan to guide the growth.

Also, it has been observed that the lack of a master plan for Ibadan has led to poor roads and drainage networks, challenges of inaccessible and mismatched land use, existence of slums and urban squalor, inadequate provision of social amenities or facilities like potable water supply, electricity, schools, health facilities, and poor solid wastes management.

At this juncture, it is evident that this master plan will give direction to future expansion of the city and identify key development opportunities.

Also, it will pave the way for the use of land and provide for the needs of future populations as well as  guide growth and support development. The plan will address infrastructure challenges in the city with a view to making it more sustainable, organised, livable and investors friendly.

There is no iota doubt that this proposed master plan will also afford the city and the residents the opportunity to re-positioning the ancient city of Ibadan back to its place as a Centre of Excellence and architectural wonders in Nigeria and continent of Africa.

It will also put an end to the ugly incidence of flooding and create a new sustainable environment for economic and industrial development in the state as well as proffer effective and lasting means of reducing the vulnerability of the city to natural disasters.

I want to urge all and sundry to join hands with Abiola Ajimobi’s led administration to turn Ibadan City to Mega City.

 Ismail Fasasi

Secretary to the State Government and Head of Service, Oyo State.