Group urges prompt action on planning, building control appeals

The Physical Planning Renaissance Initiative (PPRI), a non-governmental organisation, has commended the Lagos State Government for inaugurating the Physical Planning and Building Control Appeals Committee.

PPRI stated that although the inauguration came almost a decade after the Law establishing the Committee was passed in 2010, its take-off will provide a unique opportunity for multifarious groups who have interests and concerns in matters of physical planning and building control in the State to make known their complaints.

Chairman of the group, Dr. Wale Alade who made this known stated that developers, business men, real estate practitioners, communities and other stakeholders in the built environment now have the opportunity of expressing alternative views in matters of physical planning and building control.

“No country or economy develops effectively in an atmosphere where government thinks or believes it is the ‘Almighty’ and its decisions cannot be challenged. The Appeals Committee we hope, will recognise the virtue in the plurality of ideas. “I believe strongly that the decisions of government should be challenged if a developer feels otherwise. This will enrich our physical planning and building control administration and make government more responsible and responsive” Dr Alade said.

The group, he stated further, believes that the Committee should be made to function very well, with adequate provision made for the resources required for its work. Its guidelines of operation should be released to the public within the shortest possible time for a clear understanding of its modus operandi.

The group commended Governor Jide Sanwo-olu for the choice of the Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Ayo Adediran, a renowned town planner and members, who are very experienced professionals.A statement signed by the group’s Secretary, Ayo Adejumo enjoined the committee to carry out its statutory functions without fear or favour but with the intention of making the State a just and equitable one for physical planning and building operations.

The State’s Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako during the inauguration of the committee believed that the quest for a socially and economically sustainable Lagos could not be achieved without institution of a platform to settle disputes in the interest of all parties.

He said: “The Committee is a non-bias scheme where grievances emanating from or bordering on Physical Planning and Development Control could be presented and resolved amicably. This would be done with due recourse to the Law to determine rights and responsibilities of members of the public, whether applicants, owners or developers, as well as culpability or otherwise, in every reported situation.”Salako urged members of the Committee not to betray the trust reposed in them.