PROPERTY TRANSACTION GUIDE

West Africa's town planners adopt blueprint for live-able settlements
By Tunde Alao

Guardian, Monday, 9th November 2009

TOWN planners from countries in West Africa have resolved to collectively adopt a blueprint for the attainment of "live-able human settlements" across the sub-region. The initiative, they said, would be driven by the 'four Es' of the profession's development and sustainable framework, namely, Environment, Equity (social) Economy and Education.

The meeting also committed to the establishment of a West Africa Planning Association (WAPA), which would form one of several regional building blocs for a formidable African planning association on regional development of rural and urban cities. According to the stakeholders, WAPA is also to assist in contributing effectively to the ongoing debates on major issues and challenges confronting mankind - climate change, poverty eradication, the environment and sustainable development, among others.

The new stance may be an indication of a sharp departure from the perceived integrated western structures in both rural and urban areas in Africa, which many stakeholders realised have constituted major threats to the sustainability of the African cultural heritage.

Besides, the regional planning professionals also noted that in order to ensure adequate shelters for all on the continent, structures must be designed in ways that would not be alien or make Africans feel alien in their own fatherland.

The planners met at a two-day seminar held in Lagos with the theme; "Planning for a live-able Human Settlement" organised by the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), in collaboration with the Commonwealth Association of Planners (CAP).

Issue that topped discussions among the planning professionals at the workshop include the challenge of insufficient homes, disparity in rents, advance payment of rents in some countries including Nigeria, building collapse, rising costs of building decent accommodation, and the transforming of rural villages to urban centres.

The planners also stressed that the roadmap to achieving adequate settlements was to include regional awareness programmes and adopt proportionate community development projects in both urban and rural areas.

According to them, one of the reasons why cities encounter population explosion was the unprecedented migration of population, often caused by the absence of basic amenities of life in the villages.

Specifically, the forum set a benchmark that henceforth, promotion of employment, potable water, good road networks and constant electricity supply, should not be seen as the statutory rights of people living in cities, as they called for proportionate distribution of environmental and community development projects in both urban and rural areas by the government.

In his lecture, 'City Live-able: Implications and Challenges,' the Vice Chancellor, Tai Solarin University of Education, Ogun State, and a professor of Urban and Regional Planning, Prof. Oyesiku O. Kayode, said provision of adequate settlements for the population of any country was germane to its economic development, crime control and environmental beautification.

He said in achieving the project, the means of transportation, which is one of the critical developmental issues in the developing countries of the world with Nigeria inclusive, should be addressed.

He however regretted the failure of former Federal administration of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, to consider his committee's recommendations on the promotion of alternative means of transportation, which he hoped would reduce the pressure on urban areas and subsequently attract considerable development to the rural areas.

"I had gone for two years study in the Netherlands. During my sojourn, I discovered that most of the people prefer to ride bicycles rather than cars. I discovered that adopting bicycles as an alternative to inter-street, neighbourhood and community transportation was more effective, economical, healthy and devoid of discharge of toxic pollution into the air and ghastly accident free," he said.

He said that on his return to the country and invitation into a committee on national projects, he recommended to the Federal Government through a Senate Committee that the best alternative to transportation, which would aid urban and rural development, was the bicycle.

"The method has been tested and trusted elsewhere, but unfortunately, none of the lawmakers saw sense in the recommendation, whereas, if such initiative had been accepted, it would have made a significant effect in the nation's quest for environmental development."

Vice President, Commonwealth African Regional Conference (CAP), Dr. Chijioke L. Odimuke, said the conference, which was suggested by the Secretary of CAP, Christine Platt, in 2007, at a conference in Johannesburg last year, said:

"We in the West Africa Region, appreciate the effort of the CAP, particularly under the leadership of its immediate past president, Prof. Cliff Hague and the current President, Christine Platt, to take planning of human settlements to the centre stage of international efforts in world development. In doing so, CAP has found reliable partners in the Societe Francaise des Urbanites (SFU), the American Planning Association, the UN-Habitat and other important groups concerned with human settlements."

According to him, part of those commitments include the "Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting/Commonwealth People's Forum holding in Trinidad and Tobago this month; World Urban Forum holding in Rio de Janeiro, in March 2010; Planning Africa Conference holding in Durban, South Africa, September 2010; and the Canada Institute of Planners/CAP Conference holding in Montreal, Canada October 2010."

Odimuke noted that the 2009 CAP West Africa Regional Conference "which we are gathered for, was part of the determined global push by planners for relevance and recognition in the service of humanity, especially as the conference would feature presentations that would address salient issues in the industry.

"The expectations from this conference are two-fold. First, it will provide a platform for the promotion of cooperation among the various national and linguistic entities of the region. Hopefully, this is our first definite step towards a West Africa Planning Association, which would be one of the several regional building blocks for a formidable African Planning Association.

"Secondly, this conference is expected to further stimulate the interest of members of WAPA and assist us in contributing effectively to the ongoing debate on major issues and challenges confronting mankind - climate change, poverty eradication, the environment and sustainable development, among others," he added.

But the Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Francsco Bolaji Abosede, noted that the other side of mega city developments was the explosive population migration from the rural areas to the urban areas. He observed that most of the migrating inhabitants move in search of greener pasture, adding that African countries experience the moving population.

Abosede noted that in the 1950s, with a population of over 10 million, New York, was the only mega city in the world, adding that today, the number had risen to 19, with most of the mega cities, apart from New York, coming from the developing countries.

"As far back as 1980, UNDP projected that Lagos State would be the third largest city in the world with a population of about 24.5 million by the year 2015, next to Bombay and Tokyo. Today, Lagos has a population of over 18 million. This does not include the population of the adjourning settlements in Ogun State, which is growing at a very high rate of urbanisation."

According to the Commissioner, Lagos may currently occupy 3,577 square kilometres of space, which amount to 0.4 per cent of the total area of the country, but there is a projection that it would accommodate up to 20.19 per cent and 24.5 per cent of the nation's population by 2010 and 2015 respectively.

He said the projection was in line with the strategic position of the state in the country, saying that such advantage had turned it to a destination for all ethnic groups in search of improved living conditions.

"Apart from that, other factors that contribute to rapid urbanisation of the city include the fact that Lagos State, being home to major industrial estates in Nigeria, requires infrastructure such as power supply, road network, adequate security and others".

Earlier, the National President of NITP, Mr. Kabir Yari, a Town Planner, said the theme of the meeting is very apt and relevant in examining the live-ability indices in the cities.

According to Yari, it is more appropriate, particularly, with the recent reports on the world cities and states of the African cities, noting that "various resource persons will be looking at issues affecting our urban centres with a view to proffering solutions to identified problems".

He concluded by saying that the body wish to draw from experiences of the various countries, which no doubt, is rich and varied, but capable of bringing out good practices, make useful conclusions and move the practice of the profession forward