To achieve a more liveable environment, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has challenged professionals in the built sector, to stimulate fruitful discussion on the actualisation of Lagos-Ogun Joint Development Commission.
He noted that the initiative would help to tackle development challenges confronting the two states.
The governor spoke at the opening of the yearly General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, Lagos State chapter.
Represented by the state’s Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Omotayo Bamgbose-Martins, he said that the Lagos-Ogun Joint Development Commission was borne out of the Memorandum of Understanding between the two neighbouring states, who expressed the desire to attain cost-effective socio-economic development and address security and boundary issues.
The governor commended the institute for escalating the collaborative idea, adding that the role of town planners in fostering livable, orderly, organised and sustainable communities and cities cannot be over-emphasised, as they remained very critical to making Lagos a 21st-Century economy.
He said the theme of the AGM, ‘Lagos-Ogun Joint Development Commission-Issues, Prospects and Trade-Offs’, represents the brilliant minds of people in the town planning profession to raise relevant questions and propel action for societal development, is a most welcome idea.
The governor observed that the employment of 81 town planners by the state government was to push their total involvement in the Lagos State Public Service to 531, which is a reflection of the important roles that planners were expected to play in articulating development and building control initiatives of the government.
He further said the essence of creating the bilateral development bloc was to harness the potentials of the neighbouring states for the well being of their people and also provide good governance by tapping the capabilities inherent in the collaboration.
Sanwo-Olu said: “I am happy that professionals in the built environment are showing concern for the successful outcome of the initiative, bearing in mind that it holds the key to the future development of Lagos and Ogun states as well as the South-West geo-political region and the entire country, especially in agriculture, housing and transportation among others.”
He urged stakeholders in the state to emulate the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners in stimulating useful and fruitful discussion around the initiative, adding that such efforts are critical in suggesting ways forward and fine-tuning the idea.