21st May, 2012
The Lagos State Government says it has excised over 300 villages from its lands in Lagos, southwest Nigeria.
Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Olutoyin Ayinde, disclosed during a ministerial press briefing at the weekend that the excise was done in a bid to ensure equity, fairness and preservation of indigenous settlements.
On the development guide for the excised villages, the commissioner stated that “one of the conditions for obtaining development permits in such excised villages is an approved layout. Most of the over 300 excised villages are yet to obtain such approvals.
In order to facilitate the preparation of such development guide/layout, the ministry is preparing plans for the excised villages in partnership with private sector.
“The exercise is scheduled to take off soon after the inventory of the excised villages and availability of relevant documents, including the survey plans. The benefits of this policy are many. The developers/buyers of land in the villages will be able to process their titles and planning permits,” he stated.
He said: “On the other hand, the state government will be able to create a record both in Lands Registry and Planning Office for effective land management. The revenue from the areas shall be captured through the assessment fees and land charges and the villages will be prevented from developing into slums.
“I will, therefore, want to use this opportunity to appeal to all the stakeholders to cooperate with government in order to achieve this goal.
“Since all the activities of man will end up on land, and because the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development is saddled with ensuring sustainable and orderly development of the land, we are bound statutorily to collaborate and synergise with all stakeholders including the various MDAs.
“We have been working with all agencies of government on matters relating to urban development. We wish to continue this and, therefore, appeal for cooperation of all.”
The commissioner said there had been a review of Ikoyi-Victoria Island Model City Plan, saying the plan prepared in 2006 was currently being reviewed to respond to the social and economic realities in the area.
He stated that the review would incorporate the up-coming Eko Atlantic City, the Eko Hotel and Kuramo axis, among others, while new development, such as Intercontinental Hotel project, Ozumba Mbadiwe-Falomo Ramp and their impacts would also be examined within the Model City Plan as the ministry would engage all stakeholders in the review process to ensure an acceptable Plan.
On the proposed Ikorodu Master Plan, Olutoyin said the master plan was being re-awarded to a Town Planning Consulting Firm with a view to redirect and create a growth pole to northwestern part of Lagos.
“When completed, the plan will make provision for a counter magnet for absorbing population from the densely populated areas, providing employment opportunities, housing and recreation through a network of interconnected transport system,” he stated.
On the proposed Epe Master Plan, the commissioner added that the state government had received bids from reputable consultants, saying that the plan which would cover the whole of the old Epe Division was aimed at opening up the potential of the state by directing development northeast ward, noting that the ministry was at the stage of pre-qualifying the consultants before project award.