THE urban renewal programme embarked upon by the Lagos State government received a boost last week as three new model city plans were signed, following their publicly presentation.

The event that took place at DE Renaissance hotel, Alausa, Ikeja, was attended by professionals from different bodies that include the surveyors, town planners, builders and other relevant associations in the built environment.

The three model cities include Apapa, Agege/Ifako-Ijaye and review of Ikoyi/Victoria Island. At the presentation, former Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Olutoyin Ayinde, highlighted the features of each model city plan.

For instance, In Apapa, the study area consists of traditional settlements like Sari-Iganmu, Gaskiya, Cardoso, Ijora Oloye and Ijora Badia and home to the two most important ports in the country, the Apapa Sea Port and Tin Can Island Port.

To create a balanced and integrated Model City with adequate, qualitative and efficient infrastructure and services that will be a pride of the state the key goals in the review plan of Ikoyi/Victoria Island include the proposed intra-city cable car, mono rail, and shuttle bus routes; Ferry service Jetty site along Ozumba Mbadiwe among other infrastructures.

It also revealed that availability of land at the littoral area is good for tourist development but untapped.

Though, engulfed with traffic congestion and vices due to port, commercial and industrial activities in the axis require the necessary infrastructure.

There is also inadequate qualitative housing and infrastructure within the informal settlements and due to the informal nature of some of the settlements; the crime rate requires more attention by all level of government.

“Due to the high economic activities and population of the area, existing facilities are inadequate and there is need to preserve the serenity of the Southern littoral areas”, said Ayinde.

He also stated that the goals, objectives and vision for these model city plan is derived from the Millennium Development Goals, Lagos State Ten Point Agenda for Development, Survey conducted, literature reviews and various consultations.

Accordingly, the vision of the plan is to create a modern port city that promotes integrated, well-connected and sustainable community that is conducive for habitation and business as well as attractive to recreation, tourism and commerce.

Planning concept revealed that Apapa is divided into five sectors, Central Apapa Port/TinCan Industrial Sector; Central Apapa Residential Sector; Apapa CBD Action Area; Northern Slums including Sari, Ijora Oloye, Badia and Gaskiya (informal sectors) and Southern Tarkwa Littoral Communities.

The multi-dimensional concept was adopted to allow for different concepts/approaches applicable to each sector.

Therefore, the Integrated Coastal Zone Management and Sustainable Coastal Tourism Strategies were adopted for the littoral sector.

Green City theory was adopted for the commercial/industrial sector while Eco-City strategy was applied to the informal sector.

The core-periphery theory was adopted to allow for a balanced socio-economic development among the commercial/industrial area, the informal and littoral sectors. An action plan was prepared for Sari-Iganmu (a settlement within the informal sector).

On the Ikoyi – Victoria Island Model City Plan, the commissioner stated that it covers the period between 2013-2033 and for the sake of clarity, there is need to give the background of the area.

“The Model City is bounded in the South by the proposed Eko Atlantic City and the Atlantic Ocean, in the north by the Lagos Lagoon while the Macgregor canal bounds it in the western part.

The private estates of Oniru/Dideolu and Lekki Peninsula scheme 1 bordered the Model City in the eastern part.

The area’s land size is approximately 2,447 hectares with population over 392,31, going by the 2013 figure, with the Ikoyi-Obalende, Iru-Victoria Island Local Council Development Area (LCDA) has a Projected Population663, 226, in the year 2020 and projected population of 1,405,955 in 2030”.

To create a balanced and integrated model city with adequate, qualitative and efficient infrastructure and services that will be a pride of the state the key goals in the review plan include: Proposed intra-city cable car, mono rail, and shuttle bus routes; Ferry service Jetty site along Ozumba Mbadiwe; Telecommunication District at Saka Tinubu and environs; Creation of Hospitality Corridor between Modupe Oshikoya and Bishop Oluwole and Alfred Rewane road street scaping.

Others include the provision of both indoor and outdoor spaces that entourage and facilitate Model City recreation and celebration; Provision of high quality spaces for both active and passive recreations that meet the Model City’s unique tastes and needs.

He listed the investment investment opportunities to include Multinational Transport System, Real estate development; Hotels and Tourism, include a multi-level parking telecommunications and commercial offices.

Credit:By Tunde Alao

Guardian NewsPapers