Lagos State Government has announced the completion of the revision of the existing Ikeja Model City Plan just as it reiterated the determination to bequeath a sustainable, organized, liveable, business and tourism-friendly environment to the people.
Speaking at the presentation of the reviewed plan to stakeholders, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Architect Abiola Anifowoshe said government is ready to entertain comments, values and advice that would be beneficial and assist in the finalisation of the on-going revision of the Ikeja Model City Plan (MCP).
While emphasising the State Government’s determination to produce Strategic Master Plans for the whole of Lagos as envisioned in the Lagos State Development Plan (2012-2025), he said that out of the 12 new Development Plans being proposed for the State, 8 are already operational.
On the factors that necesiated the review of the existing Ikeja Model City Plan, Anifowoshe said contemporary physical planning challenges and the inability of the existing Ikeja MCP (2008 – 2018) to solve emerging planning problems necessitated its review.
He described the Ikeja MCP as the second amongst the Operative Development Plans being fine-tuned after Ikoyi-Victoria Island Model City plan whch was reviewed in 2015, stressing that the development plan attempts to promote a conducive environment through a qualitative land use appropriation, urban regeneration with improved accessibility to physical and social infrastructure for guaranteed efficient and improved economic investment climate in Ikeja.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mrs. Boladele Dapo-Thomas said the proposed plan, now at the public presentation level, is open to inputs, comments, ideas and observations for incorporation into the on-going revision exercise, adding that such would boost the acceptability and implementation ratings of the reviewed plan in line with global best practices.
While noting the review was necessary and timely, Dapo-Thomas informed that the existing Ikeja Model City Plan has been comprehensively evaluated and the challenges inherent therein have been meticulously studied. She therefore called on members of the public to actively participate in the review since it is meant for them.
Recall that the Ministry has since the assumption of the present administration emphasised the recognition of planning as people-centered policy in Lagos State.
ByMarc Philips