Ondo State Governor, Hon Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has reaffirmed his administration commitment to transforming the physical landscape of the state with the flagship Multipurpose Deep Seaport project in Ilaje Local Government Area which would attract about $1.3 billion investment to the economy of the state.
Governor Aiyedatiwa, who made this known while declaring open the 2024 Conference of Directors and Heads of Town Planning Organizations in Nigeria held in Akure, the state capital, assured that when the project becomes operational it would not only decongest the various ports in country but revolutionize the economy of the state.
Represented by the state Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Hon Gbenga Olaniyi, the Governor explained that the urban renewal strategies of his administration focused on improving the quality of life for the people of the state by addressing issues such as waste management, housing and access to basic social amenities, adding that his administration also prioritized the development of master plans for major cities in the state to guide orderly and sustainable growth and development.
He stressed that he has directed the state Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development to re-establish contact with the United Nations Habitat for possible collaboration in the areas of development of master plans for major towns in the state.
In his key note address, at the opening ceremony of the 3-day conference with the theme: “Effective Physical Planning As a Panacea for Integrated and Sustainable Urban Development in Nigeria”
the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arch. Ahmed Dangiwa lamented the rapid population growth of cities coupled with loosely connected nature of land use and economic development policies which he said has led to uncoordinated urban development of towns and cities in the country.
The Minister noted that only 11 of the 36 states of the federation have adopted the urban and regional law of 1992 enacted to guide physical planning in Nigeria, adding that states and local governments face plan implementation challenges due to administrative bottlenecks as well as the financial capacity needed for infrastructure investments to Keep up with the rising demand for services in urban areas which is estimated to cost $2.3 trillion over the next 20 years.
Arch. Dangiwa commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his Renewed Hope Agenda which has within one year commenced construction work for a total of 6,612 housing units across 13 states and the Federal Capital Territory now at advance stage of completion.
He added that work has started on 3,500 housing units across three selected Renewed Hope Cities of Lagos(South West), Kano(North West) and Enugu(South East) which would be delivered as part of the MOU signed well consortium of developers for 100,000 housing units across the country.
In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi noted that the conference is a unique platform for professionals, stakeholders and technocrats to ruminate over issues that would positively reshape the human settlement systems in Nigeria as well as attainment of the vision of a glorious future for the nation’s urban and rural landscapes.
The Permanent Secretary, who was represented by the Director/HOD Urban Development department of the Ministry, Dr Akinola Olakunde, enjoined all the participants to share insights, discuss challenges and explore innovative solutions that would guide human settlements along the path of integrated, sustainable growth and development across the country.
He added that the major highlight of the conference would involve sharing of submissions and presentations on respective policy and programme related activities by all the mutual stakeholders.
Delivering his goodwill message, the Ondo State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Hon Gbenga Olaniyi emphasized that failure to have a well planned environment is the greatest tragedy and main obstacle to the environmental stability and infrastructural growth of developing countries of which Nigeria is not exempted.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Chief Bunmi Alade, the Commissioner decried the many faces of environmental degradation, flooding and irregular rainfalls that have negatively affected and impacted on the socio-economic and sustainable urban development of the country, saying these should be well documented for urgent steps and collective effort to abate them.
He, therefore, the participants to engage in productive discussions, share knowledge, and collaborate on policies and initiatives that would reshape the future of urban planning in Nigeria.
Goodwill messages were also delivered by the Chairman, House of Representative Committee on Urban Development and Regional Planning, Hon. Dr Abiante Awaji, President, Nigerian Institute of Town Planners and the President, Town Planners Registration Council of Nigeria among others.
High point of the event was the presentation of the final report of physical development plan for Okitipupa to Governor Aiyedatiwa by the Hon. Minister.
The conference is an annual meeting to bring echelon of government officials, Academics, practicing Consultants and other relevant stakeholders in Town Planning profession across Nigeria to achieve greater cooperation, collaboration and mutual benefits in their respective theatre of operations.
Williams Oni
Director Information
Min. of Physical Planning and Urban Development.
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