The Lagos State Government has approved the constitution of a Physical Planning and Building Control Appeals Committee as an effective feedback mechanism for measuring government policy performance.
The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako made the disclosure during the opening ceremony of the Annual General Meeting of the Association of Town Planning Consultants of Nigeria (ATOPCON) in Ikeja recently.
Salako said the Physical Planning and Building Control Appeals Committee would redress reported grievances, serve as checks and balances on both public and private Town Planners, restore public confidence in the administration and practice of Town Planning in Lagos State as well as enhance transparency, justice, and fairness.
The Commissioner, who is the outgoing President of the Town Planning Consultants Association, stated that ensuring fair play and the culture of building right, by adhering to the laid down procedures and regulations, would not only secure the physical environment but improve the standing of professionals in the built industry.
He explained that the Lagos State Government was determined to further ease the process of approvals and enhance the ease of doing business to stem the incidence of illegal developments and protect the development plans of the State.
“As a bridge between the Government and the people, Town Planners collaboration with the government would go a long way to maintain sanity in the built environment”, he said.
While stressing that Town Planners should always uphold standards in their practice, Salako reiterated that the support of Town Planners and other professionals for Government policies was a sine qua non for effective monitoring of the physical environment of the State.
He maintained that the Lagos State government is determined to achieve a livable, organised and prosperous megacity.