Lagos unveils plans to turn Otto, Otumara slums into modern cities

• Extend development plans to 30 other communities

By Dada Jackson

The Lagos State Government has disclosed its plans to turn Otto and Otumara slums into habitable modern communities in the mainland axis of the state.

The disclosure was made by the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Idris Salako, during the annual ministerial press briefing, held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja.

According to the commissioner, the move, which is in line with the THEMES Agenda of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration, wlll culminate in the creation of a new Micro City with better urban aesthetics and vibrancy in Otto and Otumara.

He added that the creation of the Micro City in those locations would complement the proposed revamping of the National Arts Theatre by the Federal Government, through the CBN- led Committee of Bankers.

Salako stated that the Micro City would be delivered with the upgrade of existing socio-economic amenities such as hospitals/clinics, schools, market and water, which would be upgraded in-situ.

He added that there would be preservation and conservation of ecologically sensitive land spaces such as buffer zones, earth drain, floodplains and waterfronts as well as the creation of new viable economic activity centres, including residential-led mixed use.

Meanwhile, the state government through the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development has extended development plans to 30 other communities, spread across different local government areas of the state.

Salako stated this at the press briefing on Thursday, adding that the ministry had prepared the local/action plans for the communities through the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA).

He named the communities that had had their local/ action plans so prepared as Lafiaji Action Area Plan (2021-2031) in Eko District, Abule Oja Action Area Plan (2021-2031), Ajiwe Action Area Plan(2021-2031), Review of Maiyegun and Action Area Plan of an Extension to Aparakaja Casia/Abiodun Dada.

He added that the ministry undertook the Review of Ojodu Core Action Area Plan and prepared Ilo Awela Community Action Area Plan, Igbogbo Core Action Area Plan and Ologunebi Excised Village Action Area Plan as well as Shasha Oguntade Action Area Plan and  Ladipo Osoro Action Area Plan among others.

Salako noted that the state would derive maximum benefits from the preparation of the action area plans, including the effective control and proper development guide within its jurisdiction; functional land use pattern and arrangements; good road networks while urban regeneration of the slum environment would be achieved.

Other benefits are the provision of enabling environment for category of land uses, such as industrial, commercial, institutional and residential as well as investments in a sustainable manner.

The commissioner also explained that the development plans would bring about the provision of quality infrastructural developments within the planned area and guarantee a sustainable physical environment during the stipulated planning period.

He added that in pursuit of the THEMES Agenda the Ministry also prepared Development Guide Plans for some Excised Villages in the State.

” In same vein and with due cognition of the need to extend physical planning administration to Non-Schemed Areas, Development Guide Plans are being prepared to make the Excised Villages more sustainable,” he said.

According to the Commissioner, Development Guide Plans were prepared for many villages in different local government areas of the state.

The areas are Onimedu Eleputu, Lakowe, Adeba, Bogije, Igando-Oja and Awoyaya in Ibeju-Lekki L.G.A;  Ajangbadi, Kemberi and Ketu Ijanikin in Ojo L.G.A;  Parafa and Gberigbe in

Ikorodu L.G.A and; Sangotedo and Langbasa in Eti-Osa LGA.

Development Guide Plans were also extended to Suberu-Oje in the Alimosho LGA;  Apa (Parcel A) in the Badagry LGA; Ibowon in Epe LGA and Tedi in the Amuwo-Odofin LGA, he stated.