Urges proper planning, law to forestall disasters

Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, has raised an alarm over the climate change threat in the state, urging proper planning with the use of law to forestall impending natural disasters.

He said that except if necessary measures are put in place, the state might be submerged under water in due course, adding that the Ministry of Justice and judges must have a proper understanding of land matters as he noted that the state had paid N9 billion as compensation on land.

Hamzat, who spoke, yesterday, during a stakeholders’ meeting in Ikeja, Lagos, said without instrumentality of law for proper planning, it might be a problem for the future of the children. He said that Nigeria’s biggest challenge is that ‘we don’t know how to manage land and our physical plan is lost.’

Earlier, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro (SAN), said that the purpose of the meeting was to reduce litigations in courts, as well as prevent further clogging of the justice delivery system with avoidable cases.

He said: “As of July 2024, before the courts’ yearly vacation, there were over 6,047 pending cases involving the government across various categories, including land disputes (over 2,500 cases), physical planning (310), housing (240), road transportation (150), environment (75), chieftaincy (250), breach of contract (50), employment and pension (50), and constitutional and FMHR cases (150).

“The financial exposure in these cases is estimated to be around N114.5 billion.” The AG, therefore, reiterated the need for the Ministry of Justice and other Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to devise strategies to reduce litigation, minimise inter-ministerial gaps, and limit the government’s exposure to avoidable liabilities. He also stressed the need to redesign the operating systems and processes of the MDAs to enhance performance in cost, quality, service, and speed.