Six state commissioners for Physical Planning and Urban Development in the South-West region of the country, yesterday, called for a coordinated approach in planning towards addressing urban, infrastructure and other socio-economic challenges facing the over 52 million residents of the region.

They emphasised the need for coordinated thinking, institutional cooperation, shared standards, and a common regional vision towards revamping the glory of the South-West and making the region an epicentre of all-round development.

The policy stakeholders spoke during the inaugural South-West regional meeting on physical planning and urban development hosted by Lagos State, in Ikeja.

Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Oluyinka Olumide, noted that the South-West is experiencing rapid urban growth, increasing population and migration, expanding economic activity, and raising spatial interdependence among our states, but remains Nigeria’s most dynamic region, full of opportunities for growth, innovation, and shared prosperity.

These opportunities, he said, also come with planning and development challenges that do not respect state boundaries regarding accelerating urban expansion, infrastructure deficits, housing shortages, insecurity pressures, and the increasing complexity of managing growth corridors that connect one state to another.

He stressed that these issues could not be effectively addressed by any single state acting alone, adding that the inaugural meeting, therefore, represents a deliberate and forward-looking step towards strengthening collaboration in physical planning, urban development, and sustainable land governance.

Olumide, who spoke on “Forging regional integration through coordinated physical planning, urban development and sustainable land governance”, clarified that when plans align, investments multiply, adding that when development standards converge, cities become more efficient, safer and more competitive.

The commissioner advised the South-West to create a region that is more resilient, inclusive, and prepared for the future, and also appealed to the leaders to be guided by one overriding principle, which is a lasting legacy for the common good of the region, as well as the wellbeing of the millions of citizens who depend on decisions for shelter, mobility, safety, livelihoods, and a dignified urban future.

On his part, Ogun State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Olatunji Odunlami, said: “We need to now look inward into our region to see how we can collaborate on so many aspects. You cannot develop anywhere without a coherent plan. We are just trying to go back to where we were before. When we were one, we cooperated in doing so many things.”

Also, past President, Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Waheed Kadiri, who spoke on “Case for regional integration in the South-West: Accepting lessons from the past as guide for the future,” said the integration of the South-West should be focused more on satisfaction of basic needs of the people rather than the competitive Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) yardstick, warning that such situation results in rich states and poor people.

Meanwhile, Director General, Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission, Dr Seye Oyeleye, said that the South-West no longer have the luxury to work in silos but needs to work together to tackle evolving developmental challenges.

Oyeleye said that Lagos State bears the brunt of the challenges of rural-urban migration, warning that the challenges of Northern Nigeria have been exported to the South-West, hence the need to work together and develop a template on ways to move forward together.