The Lagos State Government has stated that it is set to take decisive steps to regulate and administer Informal Spaces across the State, inline with its Physical Planning mandate.
The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Olayinka Olumide made this known on Tuesday while outlining the Ministry strategic direction for the coming year.
He explained that the Ministry would invoke the power conferred on it by Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning Law, 2019 ( as amended) to ensure use of land and sustainable growth.
His words: the Law vests the Ministry with the statutory responsibility for physical planning, land – use management, development coordination and the regulation of spatial activities across the state, mandates that clearly encompass the administration of inform spaces.
He stated that Informal Spaces were public open areas not designated for permanent use but increasingly occupied without planning approval, adding that the uncontrolled use of road setbacks, walkways, under – bridge areas, drainage corridors, and under developed government land posed risks to safety, mobility and the environment.
According to him, the planned assumption of full administrative control over informal spaces was aimed strengthening land – use, planning, achieving integrated urban development, and curbing unregulated activities in key corridors, gate ways and transnational zones accros the State.
The Commissioner disclosed that plans had been conclude to embark on extensive sensitisation and engagement of internal and external stakeholders, including government agencies, transport unions, community leaders, and other interest groups, as such engagement would be critical to ensuring cooperation, compliance, and shared ownership of the initiative.
He emphasised that the intervention was not merely regulatory but strategic, as it sought to promote orderliness of the frontiers of the State, enhance urban aesthetics, improve functionality of public spaces, and protect the integrity of the physical environment.
