NAN-H-79
Integration
By Lucy Osuizigbo
Lagos, Jan. 18, 2017 (NAN) The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Lagos Chapter, has urged the state government to integrate all classes of people in planning for a Lagos Mainland Model City.
The Chairman of the institute, Mr Adekunle Salami, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Wednesday.
Cue in audio (Salami)
“Prior to now, I have information that the Lagos State Government had undertaken the preparation and completion of the Lagos Mainland Model City Plan.
“Those places that are being inhabited by those dwellers were prior to now acquired spaces.
“They were not spaces that they were supposed to have begun to inhabit, because they don’t have proper plans and those developments had erupted as incidental.
“And the best way to integrate them into the plan is to allow them to be part of plan making; in that process of participation they would have brought to bear what they wanted.
“Which I want to believe Lagos State Government must have taken into consideration.
“We call for inclusiveness in planning; those dwellers are the ones that plans are meant for.
“I want to appeal that the press has a lot of work to do in evangelising these prospects, so that those people will not be thinking that policies of government are anti-poor.
“We need more of public awareness and education so that our people will be properly educated about the processes and programmes government has put in place.’’
Cue out audio
Reacting to incessant protests by slum dwellers under the auspices of Nigerian Slum Dwellers/Informal settlement Federation, Salami urged them to embrace constant dialogue and partnership with government.
Salami explained that though, the spaces were acquired by the dwellers, due to lack of proper city plan, the structures and developments had erupted as incidental.
According to him, the dwellers of such places should be properly educated and included in the planning and implementation of the model city plan.
“All incidences of illegal development should be looked into, evaluated, reviewed and properly integrated so that there will be coexistence and there will be compatibility into making Lagos city better than what it was.
“Be that as it may, there are still rooms for improvement. They as major stakeholders in that sector cannot sit down and fold their hands.
“They are supposed to consistently be making representation to government to partner towards ensuring that they have better livelihood in that environment.
“You don’t confront or you don’t begin to pressure government to take your plight and adopt, there will be give here, take there.’’
NAN reports that the Nigerian Slum Dwellers/Informal Settlement Federation had been protesting against the demolition of structures and shanties by the State Government in some parts of the state. (NAN)
LCO/LAB/YEE
Edited by Lydia Beshel/Emmanuel Yashim
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