Goodness Sunday
Participants at a workshop on community development have stressed the need for collaboration between the public and private sectors in the provision of infrastructure.
This was one of the outcomes of a workshop that was organised by Heinrich Böll Stiftung (HBS) and Rethinking Cities Initiative (RCI) in collaboration with The Centre for Housing and Sustainable Development of the University of Lagos (CHSD-UNILAG).
The workshop, titled “Community Infrastructure Projects and Lagos State Development Plan 2052: Reality, Planning and Implementation”, was held in Lagos, recently.
The workshop, which was attended by professional bodies, non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and government agencies, discussed the profound impact of infrastructure initiatives on local communities within the context of Lagos’ long-term development strategy.
With Lagos organised into Residents Associations, Landlord Associations and Community Development Associations, it overlooked the roles of the federal, state and local governments in community developments.
According to Lagos State officials, the immediate need to focus and act in order to strengthen community development in Lagos was initiated in January 2023, where five communities were chosen for Asset Mapping Exercise.
At the event, Professor Taibat Lawanson from the Centre for Housing and Sustainable Development (CHSD) University of Lagos (UNILAG) presented the findings from their research conducted from January 2023 to June 2023 on “Assessing Community Development Projects” of selected communities in Lagos State.
Akoka, Oworonshoki, Ajegunle-Ikorodu, Ogooluwakitan and Ago Central were the five communities selected for development projects.
These communities identified their demands of uncompleted and abandoned government projects, such as road, water, power, drainage, security, education and sanitation.
Professor Lawanson condemned poor local government participation across communities and acknowledged the need to strengthen their capacity for grassroots development, saying, “the sole purpose of the workshop is for the legislators to interact with the communities to understand their needs.”
Making reference to past events, participants deliberated on the issues of affordable housing, agreement and commission by agents in Lagos State.
Residents of Oworonshoki community present at the workshop lamented, and said, “The Ministry of Environment has destroyed some houses in Oworonshoki, over 25 residents died in the recent demolition in the community in 2023. Residents are also being criminalised for building houses on water.”
The workshop participants shed light on the vital role of grassroots participation in crafting and executing infrastructure plans that resonate with the diverse needs of Lagos’ populace.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Moruf Akinderu Fatai, said Lagos has the best housing programme, stating that “the current administration is encouraging the implementation of low-income housing. Deliberate efforts are ongoing to provide low-income housing in Lagos.
“The affordable housing bill has been completed, even though the former attorney general disagreed. However, a review of the bill will be done and presented to the new attorney general of the state.”
The workshop agenda delved into the intricate nexus between the evolving needs of communities and the comprehensive Lagos State Development Plan 2052.
Discussions were centered on the challenges faced in bridging the gap between the outlined development blueprint and its practical implementation within various neighborhoods across Lagos.
The Chairman Community Development Advisory Council (CDAC), Alhaji Amusat Azeez, condemned the failure of the local governments across communities in Lagos and the impacts on residents.
To ensure accountability, he advised, “the state government should take action by allowing only responsible and willing individuals to lead local movements or administer them.”
Access to Clean and Affordable Water was a focus by the Civil Society Organisation and Community Groups,
Shantytown Empowerment Foundation (SHEF) Community Water Committees and Oworonshoki Youth Forum (OYF) Water Trust Fund.
Both worked on Idi-Araba, Mosafejo, Okerube, Orile, and Oworonshoki on community engagements on access to safe and affordable water, including women water workshops, data validation, formation of women-led water committees and establishment of water trust fund.
The priorities centered on revaluation of resources deployed to communities, the abandoned government-sponsored projects, lack of maintenance of community Infrastructures, lack of accountability to community, inactive local governments participation in the community development projects such as water, security, power infrastructure, roads, sanitation, education, prioritizing maintenance of existing projects and completion of ongoing projects.
Meanwhile, Mr. Emmanuel Adekunle assessed the gaps in the areas of housing, waste and water under the Lagos State Development Plan (LSDP) 2052 initiative.
Giving recommendation, he said, “The State Governor should issue an Executive Order that road, and drains will be provided in any low-income housing development project, initiated by a private sector organisation, including a Co-operative Society.”
He added, “Revive the Real Estate Developers programme and Section 37 of the Lagos State Tenancy Law 2011 should be effective to redress unreasonable increase in rent.”
The Lagos State Development Plan (LSDP) 2052 includes, Database Establishment for Waste Pickers, Health Insurance and Cooperative Society for Waste Pickers, Regular Health and Safety Training, Establishment of Reporting Units for Harassment Cases, and Provision of Safety Kits to the selected five communities in Lagos as listed at the workshop.
The event ended on a note of optimism, highlighting the potential for transformative change when a collective effort is made to address the infrastructural challenges faced by communities across Lagos.
With a renewed commitment to reimagining urban spaces in ways that foster inclusive growth, sustainability, and improved living standards for all residents, the workshop marked a pivotal step in the ongoing dialogue about reshaping cities and enhancing the quality of life for individuals within the dynamic landscape of Lagos, Nigeria.
