The Oyo State government has announced increased efforts to develop more resilient and sustainable cities, focusing on improving the quality of life for residents through innovative urban planning.
Williams Akin-Funmilayo, the Oyo State Commissioner for Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, made the remarks during an international conference on sustainable built environments at the University of Ibadan’s Faculty of Environmental Design and Management.
Akin-Funmilayo highlighted that under Governor Seyi Makinde’s leadership, Oyo State is at the forefront of integrating resilience into urban development.
He noted that across Africa and particularly in Nigeria, rapid urban population growth is outpacing planning frameworks. By 2050, over 70% of Nigerians are expected to live in urban areas, intensifying pressures on infrastructure and housing.
“Resilience is not optional; it is a necessity,” he stressed, citing the challenges faced in Ibadan’s expanding metropolitan area and rural-to-urban migration impacting towns like Ogbomoso, Oyo, Saki, Iseyin, and Ibarapa. These pressures have, however, created opportunities for innovation and reform in city planning.
On urban renewal, the Commissioner explained that in 2021, the state launched a renewed Urban Renewal Strategy aimed at making Oyo’s cities more livable, inclusive, and future-proof. Key initiatives include upgrading major and inner-city roads, improving drainage systems, and revitalizing public infrastructure such as schools and health centers.
A major transformation has been the digitization of land records and planning approvals through the Oyo State Geographic Information System (OYOGIS). Over 45% of Ibadan’s metropolitan land has been mapped, enabling the Ministry to issue Certificates of Occupancy within weeks rather than years, thereby enhancing tenure security, reducing land disputes, and encouraging planned development.
Following the devastating floods in Ibadan in 2011 and recent extreme weather events, the government incorporated climate adaptation measures, including extensive channelization of rivers and streams and construction of drainage, culverts, and bridges. This is part of the Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project (IUFMP), implemented in partnership with the World Bank and guided by international best practices.
Akin-Funmilayo also highlighted a “Land Swap” initiative, where the government provides land as equity while private sector partners invest in infrastructure like roads, drainage, water, and electricity.
The Ministry, in collaboration with private partners, is rolling out affordable housing schemes across major towns such as Oyo, Ogbomoso, Saki, and Iseyin, supported by the AWARI app for real-time property search and tracking.
Reflecting on the administration’s progress, the Commissioner emphasized that resilience planning must be rooted in local social, environmental, and cultural realities.
He praised the collaborative efforts with private developers, investors, consultants, government agencies, international organizations, and grassroots communities.
He invited researchers, students, and private sector stakeholders to partner with the Oyo State Government in co-creating resilient urban futures.
