The Ekiti State government has reiterated the need to engage private sector players in the state’s drive for urbanisation and housing development.
The Special Adviser to the state governor on Land Matters, Olusanmi Akintobi, spoke on Tuesday during the Institutional Capacity Support Workshop on Public-Private Participation in Urban Development, organized by the government in collaboration with the United Nations and UN-Habitat.
Akintobi explained that the government has launched a public-private partnership initiative to “harness private sector expertise and resources to enhance urban development and housing, and link housing with tourism in the state.”
While reiterating the commitment of Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s administration to sustainable urban development, he added that the government would collaborate with private organizations to achieve the desired results.
According to him, “The Urban Development Initiative aims to develop a state-of-the-art urban observatory to monitor development progress, implement a land mass development project to address housing shortages, introduce a waste management system to mitigate environmental impact, and foster public-private partnerships to boost infrastructure development.”
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The Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing and Mortgage, Dr. Gboyega Oloniyo, expressed optimism about the UN partnership with the Ekiti State government on the urbanization agenda.
“The government is doing extremely well in this sector, with 150 hectares of land for development and partnerships with private organizations. The construction of 1,000 houses for citizens is already underway,” he said.
He, however, emphasized the need for a geographical map to guide sustainable development in the state.
“Without proper geography, sustainable development will be a mirage. We are working to create a map for Ekiti State to inform decision-making on school, factory, and housing locations.”
The Human Settlement Officer at UN-Habitat, Mrs. Rosemary Odunbaku, commended Governor Oyebanji’s administration for its deliberate efforts in urban and housing development.
She reiterated the need for stakeholders to address the housing needs of the people, noting that the population of Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to double by 2030.
“In developing countries, the population of Sub-Saharan Africa will double by 2030, which is around six years from now. If we don’t act now, I wonder what will happen.”
“There is rising pressure on the government for sustainable development, where we plan for today without risking tomorrow. Yes, the population is increasing, but where are the amenities? Where are the jobs?”
On his part, the Special Adviser on Land, eGIS, and Survey, Professor James Olaleye, highlighted the importance of proper planning in land management, saying, “We need to map the land to provide spaces for humans and animals. The government is making efforts to ensure better planning, building on the previous administration’s attempts.”