The Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development has received the Delta State Commissioner for Urban Renewal, Engr. Michael Anoka, on a visit to understudy the workings of the State Ministry.

The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, who received the Delta State Urban Renewal Commissioner in his office at Alausa on Friday, said that Lagos State has a lot to offer its peers as far as physical planning was concerned as the state had, over the years, demonstrated resilient management strategies in the sector.

The Commissioner, who cited the example of the creation of the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) and the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) from the erstwhile Lagos State Physical Planning and Development Authority (LASPPDA) in response to building collapses in the State, said that the Ministry had evolved to meet the ever-increasing regulatory pressure in the built environment of the State.

His words: “The Ministry, as presently constituted, is poised to meet the yearnings of the people. It has, at the apex, two policy-formulating offices, that is, the Office of Physical Planning and the Office of Urban Development.

“It also has four implementing agencies, including the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority, the Lagos State Planning and Environmental Monitoring Authority (LASPEMA), the Lagos State Building Control Agency, and the Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency (LASURA)”.

He added that the Administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had given physical planning its pride of place with massive investment in Operative Development Plans such as Master Plans, Model City Plans, Action Area Plans, and Development Guide Plans, to birth an orderly, organised and sustainable built environment.

The Permanent Secretary, Office of Physical Planning, Engr. Oluwole Sotire stated that while Lagos was far ahead, the two states had a lot to learn from each other as far as planning the physical environment was concerned, adding that physical planning played a crucial role in shaping the development and sustainability of cities. 

Heads of critical Departments and Units in the Ministry explained their mandates and achievements to the visitors, while the Honourable Commissioner presented his counterpart from Delta State with copies of the Lagos State Operative Development Plans.

Explaining the purpose of his visit, the Delta State Commissioner for Urban Renewal, Engr. Micheal Anoka said that he needed to understudy the Lagos State model as Lagos had demonstrated leadership in regulating the built sector whilst the Delta State Ministry of Urban Renewal was just about five years old.

The Delta State Commissioner, who was accompanied by Directors in his Ministry, was full of appreciation for the insightful knowledge and experiences gained from the visit. (Lagos State Government Official Website)