Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Rt. Hon. Karounwi Oladapo, has said that the Urbanisation Programme of the Ekiti state is not meant to witch-hunt or inflict hardship on its citizens but to engender rapid development and beautification.
Oladapo said this while addressing newsmen in Ado-Ekiti.
He said that Ado-Ekiti remained the only state capital in the Southwest states that has no master plan, pointing out that the importance of having a well-structured master plan to bring on board the accelerated development in Ado-Ekiti can never be overemphasized
Also speaking, the Special Adviser, Bureau of Housing and Mortgage Development, Dr Gboyega Oloniyo, earlier said that Ekiti State government has revealed that it has collaborated with the United Nations-HABITAT to achieve an effective urbanisation in the state.
He said that the collaboration is targeted at ensuring a comprehensive urbanisation and development of Ado- Ekiti, capital of the state and will examine the theme: ‘Identification of areas of interventions for sustainable urban development’
Oloniyo added that delegates of the UN-HABITAT are expected to be in the state between October 15 and 17 for a UN-HABITAT scoping mission, towards the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding(MOU) signed in June by the Ekiti State Government and the United Nations Human Settlement Programme.
Oloniyo who said the three-day visit would focus on sustainable urban development and improving the quality of life in communities, added that the visit will also provide a unique platform for dialogue, knowledge sharing, collaborations among experts, policymakers and stakeholders, adding that the UN expertise and experience, over the years, will undoubtedly enrich the understanding and contribute to the formulation of comprehensive strategies for sustainable development in the state.
He further said that the international body would also help the state government in attracting funding from donors as well as support agencies towards the implementation of the structure plan.
He said the partnership would also consider local communities by listening to their voices and learn from experience, which by so doing would ensure that actions are truly people-centered and that the strategies developed are tailored towards the unique needs and aspirations of the people.
