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Lagos, Badagry residents parley over physical planning

By Tunde Alao
21 February 2016   |   9:15 pm
TO prevent haphazard physical developments along the Badagry corridor, a suburb in Lagos, the state government has sought the understanding of the property owners and resident within the area, and to seek government’s input before engaging in any building project.

TO prevent haphazard physical developments along the Badagry corridor, a suburb in Lagos, the state government has sought the understanding of the property owners and resident within the area, and to seek government’s input before engaging in any building project.

This, the state said was necessary so that the good intention of the residents to develop their own property does not obstruct the master plan of the entire axis.

Besides, community leaders are also seeking the grant of global approval for the excised lands for them from the acquired ones.
Making the request last week, the Akran of Badagry, Aholu Menu-Toyi, represented by Chief Dr. Wheton Ambe, the Agoloto of Badagry Kingdom, pleaded with the government to grant excision from the globally acquired land in the suburbs of the area, establish sub-offices of the Ministry within Badagry and also engage in more sensitisation and periodic monitoring to construction sites.

The traditional ruler also advised government not to neglect the agricultural and tourism potentials of the area in the Master Plan, urging the government to assist in renovating all the heritage sites in line with the international best practices.

In your master plan, we want you to establish sub-offices of the Ministry within Badagry and also engage in more sensitisation and periodic monitoring of construction sites, to ensure total compliance to planning regulations, Oba Akran pleaded.

Also the community wants the government to give reprieve to those who had already completed their buildings, without planning permit.

Another traditional ruler, the king of Kweme Kingdom, Oba Sejiro Olamilekan James, who asked for what would be the fate of those whose buildings are already in place without permit.

Responding, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Wasiu Anifowoshe, a town planner, explained that the Ministry was already working on the modalities and consideration for the people.

“We are carefully working on the best way to tackle the issue of those who have already erected their buildings, without government’s permit document.

“Besides, we are seeking proactive measures in view of the migration of people and businesses to Badagry axis, which will soon increase, owing to the massive ongoing infrastructural development, especially, the expansion of the expressway and construction of rail lines. These are indications showing the need for effective management of physical development before it is late”, said Anifowoshe.

Similarly, the General Manager of Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority, Olutoyin Abdul, also a town planner, said that government was planning to avoid haphazard development, create more employment opportunities and increase the value of properties in a way that encourages commercial and industrial development.

Abdul lamented that only 1,428 buildings seek approval from the government, with large numbers to have contravened planning laws, adding that government would not condone construction without permit.

He also added that government was aware of issues of global acquisition, title documents, land regularization, issues of excised villages, layout approval, Development Guide Plan among others issues facing the axis, stressing that the administration of Governor Ambode is not only concerned about these issues but also working seriously to address them.

According to him, the strategic framework for the Master Plan was based on essential future growth such as the expansion of Lagos-Badagry Expressway into ten lanes incorporating BRT Lane as well as provision of light rail, establishment of Energy City, Furniture Village citing of Badagry Sea Port, International Market, Coastline for tourism, Agro-Allied Industry and several others.

The Executive Secretary of Badagry West, Mr. Joseph Agoro also advised the residents to see the development plans for the area beyond the present age, stressing that the fruits of the sacrifices that would be made for the plans to materialize would turn out to be a gainful investment in the future.

He said that the fall of the oil boom is a blessing to residents of the area as Badagry is presently regaining its glory as a town to be reckon with because of its rich natural and tourism potentials.

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