Urges residents to support consultant in regeneration plan
Lagos State Government, yesterday, assured residents of Lagos lsland, investors, and businesses that the ongoing development of the Lagos Island Model City Plan would promote inclusive community.
It also reiterated its commitment to a participatory, bottom-up approach to governance in general and particularly in the overall management of the environment in a sustainable manner.
The state’s Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Oluyinka Olumide, gave the assurance during a stakeholders’ meeting held at MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.
Olumide said the move would deepen development by attracting investment into Lagos Island, make the area a haven of world-class technology, entertainment, maritime, protect and promote the sustainability of cultural and historical heritage, as well as advance a new dimension in the regeneration of traditional communities.
He said that the city plan was conceived to correct the negative impacts of the partial implementation of the expired Lagos Metropolitan Master Plan on Lagos Island, such as slum development, run-down infrastructure, illegal conversion of approved buildings to other uses, over-crowding, flooding, and building collapse, among others.
The commissioner added that the wide-ranging recommendations of the metropolitan master plan on Lagos Island’s growth and development incidentally received partial implementation over time.
He said: “The Lagos Island Model City Plan will, in the next 20 years, seek to position the subject area into a world-class commercial, industrial, and cultural hub across the West African sub-region. Your contributions will help in achieving a genuinely people-oriented plan that can stand the test of time.
“I enjoin all to participate robustly and not hesitate to make comments as Greater Lagos is a collective responsibility, and all hands must be on deck to achieve a great vision.
“To ensure that no group is left behind in contributing to the achievement of a robust, resilient, sustainable and organised Lagos Island of our dream, the draft final plan was displayed to the public for 28 days, between May 17 and June 23, 2023, as required by the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law 2019 as amended.”
Meanwhile, the Director of the Regional and Master Plan Department, Kunle Salami, said the plan had gone through several stages of development given the fact Lagos lsland is the economic heartbeat of Nigeria with about 9.26 square kilometres and is predominantly dominated by the Yoruba.
Salami said the project would create opportunities for participatory endeavours from stakeholders to grow the area and enjoy the ambience of development.
The Project Consultant, Dar Al Handasah, said the plan sets the direction for Lagos lsland’s growth to the year 2040 and forms the basis of appropriate regeneration, supporting the sustainability and liveability of the place and communities.
