The Lagos State Government is set to create a new Agency that will see to the proper management, allocation and utilisation of incidental open spaces across the state.
According to the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Abiodun Olumide, the new department, the Lagos State Informal Space Management Agency (LASISMA) will cover all incidental open places across the state; like those under high tension electric cable lines popularly called “powerline” and drainage canal setbacks.
Dr. Oluyinka said LASISMA will ensure removal of all structures built on incidental open spaces, to sustain the state’s physical planning sanity and preserve informal spaces through strict adherence to its development plans.
While averring that certain activities are technically allowed under “power lines”, Oluyinka stated that it will be the duty of LASISMA to determine and licence members of the public to make use of them.
The Commissioner, noting that building on incidental and informal open spaces do not only distort the state’s master plan, and rob the state of the desired ambiance as a Mega City, said indiscriminate encroachment exposes citizens and the society to various forms of risks including health and accidents.
Oluyinka was speaking during a press briefing organised to herald the planned Lagos Physical Planning Summit, billed to hold between 15th and 16th, October 2024, under the theme: “Rethinking Lagos: A New Vision for a Regional and Integrated Megacity.”
According to the Commissioner, the upcoming summit is designed to position the state for investment as proposed in the Operative Development Plans(ODPs); explore options available for implementation of the state master plans for sustainable development and explore proposals in the ODPs for implementation
He listed other purposes of the Summit to include evaluating the level of implementation and identifying challenges there from.
Dr Oluyinka Olumide explained that the summit will bring together stakeholders; citizens, local and international Banks, professionals and investors, among others, to highlight most appropriate action plans which he said will help the state sustain it’s mega city status.
A former Governor of the states, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) will deliver keynote address while other top ranking experts and researchers in Urban Planning, Policy making, Project development, Risk analysis, Legal Frameworks, Project Finance and Governance will also speak at the 2-Day Summit.
Oluyinka added that the outcome of the summit will form a benchmark of periodic appraisal of the state’s physical plans.
He also said that the Ministry is considering engagements and advocacy, all on the path of encouraging the populace to own government policies for sustainability.
Highlighting various efforts by the government to ensure that builders obtain appropriate approvals before commencement of work, which he said included a declaration of amnesty period and waiver of penalties, Oluyinka lamented that less than 25 percent of houses in Lagos have government approval.
Held at the Conference Room of the Ministry, Wednesday briefing had in also attendance, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, Permanent Secretary, Mr. Oluwole Sotire, Directors and other top government functionaries including members of the Summit Planning Committee.
L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Engr. Oluwole Sotire; Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Olumide Oluyinka; Commissioner for Information and Strategy,Mr. Gbenga Omotoso. During a Press Conference on the Lagos Physical Planning Summit