Kogi, UN-Habitat partner on cities planning

Kogi State government said the city structure plan it is producing for four cites in the state is a document that will be made binding for successive administrations in the state when backed up by legislation. The state governor, Capt Idris Wada who stated this in Dekina at a city consultations for State of Kogi […]

Kogi State government said the city structure plan it is producing for four cites in the state is a document that will be made binding for successive administrations in the state when backed up by legislation.
The state governor, Capt Idris Wada who stated this in Dekina at a city consultations for State of Kogi Structure Plans Project held by the state government in partnership with UN-Habitat, disclosed that the final document will be submitted to the state assembly for legislation.
Wada who was represented by the deputy governor, Yomi Awoniyi said  the city structure plan would check the mismatch in planning and called on people of Dekina to painstakingly make vital contributions that will aid adequate planning for the council in the next 20 years.
He maintained that the city structure plan will not only aid urban planning but will also help in attracting funding and support from donor agencies towards the development of cities in the state.
Governor Wada commended the zeal and turnout by the people of Dekina to make their input towards the plan, adding if left unchecked, the uncoordinated development will lead to unemployment, decayed infrastructure, crime and haphazard urbanization.
He disclosed that the payment of the $1.3million by government as its counterpart fund to UN Habitat underscored the importance his administration attaches to urbanization and urged the people to make sincere input into the document that will lead to the realization of the government’s objectives.
 Wada, who commended the UN Habitat for its partnership geared towards providing a plan for cities in the state, assured that sufficient skills gathered by the state will be deployed in producing a comprehensive plan for other areas in the state.
In a consultation overview, UN Habitat Regional Director for Africa, Prof Oyebanji Oyelaran Oyeyinka expressed commitment of the UN to developing cities in Kogi State, commended the Kogi State government for offering leadership for the success of developing well planned cities in the state.
Prof Oyebanji described a plan involving the input of the people as one that is enduring, said the benefit of a city structure plan for cities will enable government and other agencies access easily information that will help in sustainable development of cities in the state.