Osinbajo wants African leaders to tackle urbanisation

VICE President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday said that the increasing number of slum dwellers in many nations in Africa is a clear manifestation of inequality that exists in the continent.

He, therefore, called for practical and well thought-out solutions to tackle the problems of urbanisation and slum in Africa in a coherent and co-ordinated manner.

Declaring open African regional conference on Habitat 3 in Abuja, Osinbajo noted that Africa has the highest inequality in the world, adding that this has impacted negatively on growth in Africa.

He said: “We need to tackle this inequality and social exclusion. There is a link between urbanisation and industrialisation and structural change. The urbanisation that we desire as Africa should take place in a manner that simultaneously promotes growth and social inclusion.”

The Vice President, who urged African leaders to change the story of African cities and urban settlements from one of chaos, informality and slum to a positive one of planning, tranquility and environmental sustainability, blamed poor planning of human settlements in the continent on lack of institutional and legal frame-works, ineffective development control, limited capacity, insufficient resources and outdated data.

Also speaking, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, said no city can grow properly without robust infrastructure solutions such as good roads and bridges, affordable housing and decent schools, constant electricity, clean water and clever town planning.

“We must therefore see the utilisation of infrastructure as critical tools of containment on one hand, and management on the other hand as we deal with the realities of decades of urbanisation and its challenges”, he added.

According to the minister, one of the key solutions to creating sustainable cities and urban areas should happen hundreds of miles away from the city in the rural areas.

He stressed the need to see agriculture and farming as tools for sustainable urbanisation – essential for cities and towns to evolve properly.

“After all, it’s the people in rural areas that will produce the food that the people in the city will eat. Rural areas need to be supported. Our farmers need to be encouraged and supported to stay and grow food, employ local people, and provide food security for all”, he said.