The Lagos State Government and the Agence Francaise De Development (AFD) have resolved to collaborate on the regeneration of blighted communities in the State.
The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako, spoke during a meeting with the French Development Agency in Alausa, expressing the State Government’s willingness to explore a collaborative strategy to improve the condition of blighted areas, better the lot of its people and enhance socio-economic development in line with the T.H.E.M.E.S. Agenda of the present administration.
He urged the foreign donor Agency to recourse to the guidelines from the Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency (LASURA) and the Operative Development Plans of the State, some of which are currently going through statutory periodic reviews by the Ministry.
Acknowledging the support of AFD for the Lagos State inter-modal transportation initiative, Salako noted that the Physical Planning Ministry and its agencies are critical to the selection of sites and other planning parameters relating to transportation facilities as indicated in the Strategic Lagos Transportation Master Plans.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on E-GIS and Planning Matters, Dr. Olajide Babatunde, enjoined the AFD to explore other priority areas for collaboration, adding that many opportunities abound in the management of incidental open spaces.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Engr. Abiola Kosegbe, highlighting the projects and programmes of the Ministry, pointed out that the agency could key into some ongoing activities such as the planned automation of the processes of the Ministry and her Agencies, the move to domesticate the National Building Code and the formulation of the Lagos Urban Development Policy among others.
Earlier, the AFD Director, Mr. Xavipa Nurow, said that the organisation was pleased to take further steps on its preliminary discussion with LASURA on site selection and priority areas for the upgrade of blighted areas.
The General Manager of LASURA, Ms. Ajibike Shomade and the General Manager of the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA), Tpl. Kehinde Osinaike, explained their respective mandates to the AFD team.
Also present at the meeting were the General Manager, Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Arc. Gbolahan Oki and the General Manager, Lagos State Planning and Environmental Monitoring Agency (LASPEMA), Tpl. Daisi Oso.
