A former Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Sciences at the University of Lagos, Prof. Leke Oduwaye, has urged the Ogun State Government to prioritise the development of master plans for its rapidly expanding communities to ensure orderly and sustainable growth.
Speaking with journalists during the 2025 Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Ogun State Chapter, held in Abeokuta, Oduwaye noted that although the state is witnessing rapid development, it lacks adequate master plans—a situation that could lead to uncoordinated settlements and major economic losses.
He warned that without proper urban planning, Ogun risks facing chaotic development patterns. “Ogun State is developing very fast, and if we don’t plan our settlements, we will be losing a lot. It doesn’t cost much to plan our towns. The government can make it a policy to prepare at least three master plans every year—one for each senatorial district—and include this provision in the state budget,” he suggested.
The meeting, themed “Conflicting Rationalities: The Challenge of Urban and Physical Development in Nigeria,” focused on the importance of proactive planning in addressing urban growth challenges.
Oduwaye recommended that the government could also develop district-based master plans, citing Lagos State’s Ikorodu District Master Plan as a successful example. According to him, master plans not only organize settlements but also increase land value and attract investors who rely on clear development blueprints to guide industrial, residential, and infrastructural investments.
“Planning helps to configure settlements ahead of development. Planners are like prophets—they project how settlements will evolve because they possess the technical, legislative, and practical knowledge that guides sustainable development,” he said. “If Ogun budgets for three district master plans every year, within 20 years, the state will look orderly, seamless, and beautiful.”
He further explained that such plans would guide the proper siting of infrastructure like roads, railways, and seaports, adding that “a rail connection from Abeokuta to Iperu or from Olokola Seaport to the Gateway International Airport could easily be integrated into such plans.”
The Chairman of NITP, Ogun State Chapter, Adefela Sogbesan, also urged the public to change their perception of town planners, clarifying that they are not demolition agents. “People think planners only demolish buildings. That’s not who we are. With professional advice, there will be no need for demolition because buildings will not be erected where they shouldn’t be,” he explained.
Similarly, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Tpl. Olatunji Odunlami, represented by John Olutunde, revealed that the state government is currently reviewing its housing laws to reflect modern realities and protect property owners’ investments. He commended the institute for its efforts and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting urban development initiatives.
In August 2025, The Guardian reported that the Ogun NITP chapter expressed concern over the growing infrastructure deficit in parts of the state experiencing rapid population growth, noting that industrialisation in areas like Ilaro and Ibese is driving an influx of residents without matching provisions for roads, drainage, education, and healthcare facilities.
ADEOLA KUNLE
