The General Manager, Lagos State Planning and Environmental Monitoring Authority (LASPEMA), Tpl. Daisi Oso, has underscored the need to strengthen the regulation and monitoring of Lagos Urban Spaces as well as the activities of the informal sector, through an effective collaboration with the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP).
Tpl. Oso, who made this known during a working visit of the National President of the Institute, Tpl. Olutoyin Ayinde (FNITP) to LASPEMA on Tuesday, added that the Agency is looking forward to a stakeholder engagement with the institute where details of the proposed partnership will be fine-tuned.
He opined that informal business enclaves could be established with proper profiling and mapping of all the setbacks and incidental open spaces to curtail infractions, shanties as well as all other informal business operators on such spaces.
While pointing out that the various infractions on urban spaces ought to be a subject of concern for everyone in the planning profession, Oso pointed out that due attention must be paid to the massive informal sector of the economy to avoid a complete distortion of the Lagos State urban plan.
He said the creation of LASPEMA was to regulate and protect the Informal Business Sector as well as create a wide range of opportunities and repertoire of resources for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government to assist with the planning of their various activities.
Tpl. Oso promised to justify the confidence reposed in him by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who appointed him as General Manager of LASPEMA.
In his remarks, the National President, Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Tpl. Olutoyin Ayinde, FNITP, promised to liaise with the government for planners to have their pride of place in government.
According to him, there is need for a paradigm shift in the systemic flow of things, if the desired change clamoured in the planning profession must see the light of the day.
Dignitaries present during the working visit include General Manager, Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA), Tpl. Kehinde Oshinaike and General Manager, Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency (LASURA), Alhaja Ajibike Shomade, as well as other top government officials.
