Wetlands: Town planners advise builders to observe 15metre setback from canals
By Rasaq Adebayo
Officials of Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning Permit Authority have advised the residents of Ejigbo to observe the mandatory 15 metres setback from canals and get layout approval from the government before building their houses to avoid demolition.
They gave the advice during a stakeholders’ meeting facilitated by the Chairman of Ejigbo LCDA, Hon. Monsurudeen Bello (Obe) involving the Community Development Associations (CDAs) in Bucknor area and the government over the ongoing development at the boundary between Elemu area of Ejigbo LCDA and Isheri (under Ikotun-Igando LCDA).
It was noted that there is massive development going on in the area which is hitherto a Greenland but the layout is not yet captured by the authorities in charge.
The council boss had invited the officials from the Ministry of Physical Planning and eight CDAs around Bucknor area to address the issue of the land layout of residents of the community before development is completed in the area.
Obe disclosed that the purpose of inviting the town planners was to ensure every part of the area is accessible to residents and that the meeting would afford the officials to educate the residents on how best to go about developing their property in the best interest of the residents and government.
He further said the meeting was summoned to also afford property owners to ask questions and give vital information about their community.
“People have built in wrong locations and even on water channels because they do not have a proper layout of their land. This is because they do not consult the government to get approval or even make some corrections in their layout.
“We are concerned because we believe that an environment that is full of elite must have an appropriate layout of their roads, investment establishments, houses and the likes for the safety of the community at large.”
The District Officer, Town Planner Yusuf Ademola, who led the Ministry officials, while addressing the residents, gave an illustration of labelled green areas in Ashamu Swamp and Divine CDA respectively that are presently going through development but which a government-hired consultant had for a long time made a layout for when the places were still underdeveloped.
He said they had to visit in order to make a more comprehensive layout of the area and ensure appropriate representation of the sacred areas and other important places within the community and to also educate the people on how to regularize their property.
“We are here to correct the haphazard construction of buildings within this community because it is not in line with the government’s order.
“In the modern city plan of Oshodi-Isolo which Ejigbo falls under, the swampy area of Divine CDA was tagged as a massive area because it is very close to the canal but then we discovered that some buildings are not well constructed. Some of the roads are not properly laid as some are blocked while some are not connected properly.”
In contribution, a stakeholder from Ashamu Swamp CDA, Engr. Hakeem Lawal explained that engineers around Ayanyan area had earlier made a layout of the place while proposing to the town planners to make copies of the existing layout available.
Also speaking, a stakeholder from De-Harmony CDA, Mr. Samuel Okoye appealed that the council chairman should facilitate the visitation of the town planners to individual CDA rather than a joint one to give each CDA better access to express themselves and to also give them the opportunity to chat one on one with the town planners.
Assuring stakeholders, Town Planner Sherifat Onileere explained that the issue of LBIC is for the concerned residents to get their clearance or approval for marked buildings from the state government while advising them to always seek planning information on every new landed property.
Onileere also noted that houses around the canal ought to have at least about 15meters of setback from the canal to their buildings in order not to affect the buildings whenever government intends doing road expansion.
Town Planner Yusuf, while disclosing resolutions made from the suggestions, informed the gathering that the Ministry of Works would be contacted to work on the turning point at Elemu junction in order to save the community from accident while assuring that the ministry would take into account the suggestions and proposals of the residents before making a final layout.
