Plan has reached an advance stage by the Ogun State Government to commence its own intra-city bus service.
Making this known in Abeokuta, the state capital during the 2021 World Habitat Day celebration organized by the Ministry of Environment, the governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun revealed that towards this objective, the state has prepared and started a State Transport Strategic Plan.
He said that the state has also carried out rehabilitation and construction of about 272kms of critical roads State wide to ensure the smooth operation of the buses.
"We have prepared and started a State Transport Strategic Plan. Preparation is in top gear to commence intra city bus service to reduce emission and gridlock on our city roads, while we have also carried out rehabilitation and construction of about 272kms of critical roads State wide, as well as encourage the use of gas and issuance of permits for laying of gas pipelines, especially for commercial uses", the governor noted.
‘’As people continue to come into the State with its attendant effects, this administration has discovered the importance of an effective urbanisation in the discharge of good governance, which will be translated into the provision of physical development, adequate transportation, traffic and efficient waste management’’ he said.
The Governor stated that three new core competency urban planning and development agencies namely; the Ogun State Slum Regeneration Authority, Ogun State Building Production and Management Authority and the Ogun State Planning and Development Permit were created towards ensuring a carbon-free environment.
"The future of our planet depends on national, regional, local governments, world organisations, communities, institutions, the private sector and everybody working together to create a sustainable, carbon-neutral, inclusive cities and towns", Abiodun noted.
In his welcome address, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Tpl. Olatunji Odunlami said carbon was the building block of life and the most important element in living things, despite the causes of global warming which is an aspect of climate change being experience in the world today, pointing out that the Day was to focus on the serious issue of the impact of the urban and city activities on the ever-increasing carbon footprint and to embrace actions that would reduce it to zero level.
In his goodwill message, the President, Nigeria Institute for Town Planning, Tpl. Toyin Ayinde, opined that it was important to take the issue of environment seriously by adhering to professional advice to preserve the planet for the next generation, urging people to desist from actions and activities that deplete the ozone layer and work towards a sustainable environment.
Speaking on a lecture titled, ‘Effects of Urbanisation and Land Use on Greenhouse Gases Emission: Strategic Options for Sustainable Development’, the Guest Speaker and a former Vice Chancellor, Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ijebu-Ode, Prof. Kayode Oyesiku, submitted that urbanisation was an unstoppable phenomenon as large number of people live in cities.
Oyesiku said daily activities of human beings led to an increase in global temperature in the recent decades and the death of about two million people as a result of natural disasters.
In her address, the United Nations Habitat Executive Director, Maimunah Mohd. Sharif, who spoke through virtual, said there was a need to review planning as it affects construction work, saying it is important to key into renewable energy to save the environment.
His counterpart in the Special Envoy on Road Safety, Jean Todt, who represented the United Nations Secretary General, said four million people live in the cities, as urbanisation continues to shape the world, urging the people to continue to strive towards a carbon-free world
Meanwhile, the state Ministry of Transportation has began working on a systemic synergy with Local Governments in the State to enhance service delivery and ensure a safe, accessible and affordable transportation system, particularly at the grassroot.
Commissioner in charge of the Ministry, Engr. Gbenga Dairo who dropped this hint in Abeokuta at an interactive session with the Local Government Chairmen and other relevant government agencies in the transportation sector, noted that the move would create a viable transportation system capable of enhancing socio-economic wellbeing of the people.
According to him, the synergy would put in place a sustainable transportation system and efficient traffic control mechanism that would reduce travel time, prevent road fatalities and crashes, assuring the council bosses that their constitutional authority would not be undermined in the process.
‘’Our Ministry can only achieve its primary objective of making the transportation sector safe, accessible and affordable through a systemic synergy with the local governments, which would avail direct grassroots connect with transport end users and in turn empower them to tackle transportation challenges in their localities in line with the State Transport Master Plan”, the Commissioner disclosed.
He assured that no stakeholders would be left out in achieving the set goal of making the Ogun transportation system attractive and comfortable for all passengers within and around the State, stressing that relevant traffic control and management agencies under Ministry of Transportation, such as Park and Garages Development Agency (PAGADA), Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) and Vehicle Inspection Services would be empowered to enhance their operational performances.
Speaking further, the Commissioner explained that his agency would embark on a statewide tour with a view to acquainting council leadership and other critical stakeholders with the State Transport Master Plan, pointing out that such deliberate concerted efforts would help combat transportation challenges effectively.
In his contribution, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon Afolabi Afuape, charged all the Local Governments Chairmen to key into transportation policies and programmes of the State government for the development of their various areas.
Speaking on behalf of his colleague chairmen, the Chairman, Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Engr. Babatunde Emilola-Gazal, lauded the Ministry for sharing plans to develop an institutional framework for transportation system and as well not restricting its on-going efforts at tackling transportation challenges to major cities in the State.
Emiola-Gazal who is the Chairman, Ijebu-Ode Local Government also expressed the readiness of his colleagues to cooperate with the State government towards replicating the approved transport master plan in their various Local Government Areas.
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