The Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr Omotayo Bamgbose-Martins, has commended his Ondo counterpart for understudying Lagos operations towards achieving a livable environment.
This is contained in a statement on Friday by Mrs Adetola Kehinde-Akinsanya, Chief Public Affairs Officer of the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.
Bamgbose-Martins, according to the statement, gave the commendation while receiving the Ondo State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development delegation on study tour to Lagos.
The tour took the visitors to the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development and its agencies.
Bamgbose-Martins, who received the Ondo State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Alhaji Aminu Takuro and his delegation said the visit was good for development.
The Commissioner said that his Ondo State counterpart took a good step to see how Lagos had been able to address its several developmental challenges, considering population density, land use pressures and infrastructural needs.
Bamgbose-Martins said that “the T.H.E.M.E.S. Agenda remained the pivotal programme of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration in Lagos State”.
He said there was a lot to learn from the development and building control initiatives of the state driven by the ministry and its agencies, including Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority and Lagos State Building Control Agency.
He hailed the visit as being in the spirit of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) and opportunity to compare notes and gain from the strengths and experience of Lagos State.
He added that knowledge of planning in Lagos, through the defunct Lagos Executive Development Board (L.E.D.B.) in 1928, predates Nigeria’s independence.
Special Adviser to the Governor on e-GIS and Planning Matters, Dr Olajide Babatunde, said Ondo State Government would benefit from copying Lagos.
Babatunde said it would help the government to develop a “holistic Master Plan for organized and harmonious development of its communities”.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mrs Abiola Kosegbe urged the visitors to feel at home.
Kosegbe said that heads of agencies and departments of the ministry had been instructed to share knowledge to make the visit of their Ondo State counterparts worthwhile.
Earlier, the Ondo State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Alhaji Aminu Takuro, said that the study tour was important for him to set his agenda as a new Commissioner, who assumed office about two months ago.
“Our ministry needs rebranding and out of the three states we are looking up to, Lagos State, being the Centre of Excellence, remains our best option, where we can have a lot to take away,” he said.