The Lagos State government has once again restated its determination to create a model city which will create a city with a significant reduction in the number of slums and which will be endowed with necessary infrastructure meant for a developed society.

This was revealed during a public presentation and stakeholders meeting that focussed on the Mainland Model City Plan, and which was held at the Mainland Hotel, Oyingbo, last week, by the state Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development (MPP&UD) in conjunction with a consultant group – Dar al-handasah – who are the consultant group expected to bring about the transformation of Lagos into a model city.

When giving his keynote address, the Commissioner for MPP&UD, Mr Olutoyin Ayinde, insisted that a Lagos Megacity was strategic to the economic development of Nigeria with a population of 20 million and growing at between 6-8%, while also adding that Lagos, being the largest urban agglomeration in Africa, contributed more than 30% of Nigerians GDP and hosted 70% of the nation’s total industrial investments.

“However, the state is faced with critical urban challenges arising from its population density of over 5000 persons per square km. This situation requires substantial investment in socio-economic in infrastructure and repositioning of the megacity,” the commissioner stated.

Mr Ayinde further disclosed that the Mainland Central Model City Plan was a strategic plan for the next 20 years and that it was a tool or framework for the delivery of social, economic and environmental benefits to the citizens of the state.

“The state government strategy is poverty reduction and infrastructure renewal using basic strategic planning techniques for stimulating sustainable development. This is also the focus of the 10-point development agenda of which environment and physical planning is key development strategy.

“It is in pursuant of this that the state embarked upon preparation of various levels of developmental plans to drive socio-economic development agenda. For this purpose, the state has been divided into planning areas with a view to preparing master plans and model city to guide the development process in the state.