LASG MOVES TO ENHANCE SYNERGY AMONG MDAs IN BUILT ENVIRONMENT

In a move to further enhance the synergy among agencies of Government in the built environment, the Lagos State Government, on Wednesday, convened a meeting of all MDAs in the sector at the Conference Room of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development at the Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja.

Speaking at the meeting, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako, said that the essence of the meeting was to remove duplication of efforts, reduce bottlenecks and improve the perception of Government by the people.

He noted that all Agencies of Government in the built environment must maintain a common front as opposed to the observed divergence in their operations, especially on enforcement activities.

"Since our allegiance should be to the Government and not our respective MDAs, there should be common fronts in all that we do and no divergence in our activities. This meeting is to allow us to close ranks and form the needed synergy for the benefit of the State and its people", he said.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Engr. Abiola Kosegbe, added that the meeting would be continuous and ultimately lead to the formation of a working group and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for MDAs in the built environment sector of Lagos State.

Her words: "By forming a common platform, the State and its people will be better for it. It may take six or more months to look at roles and harmonise them, at the end of which we will develop a robust document that will speak to specific roles".

MDAs at the meeting include the Lagos Inland Revenue Service (LIRS), Ministry of Housing, Lands Bureau, Lagos Wastewater Management Office, Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Lagos State Fire Service, Land Use Allocation Committee (LUC) and Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA).

Others are the Office of Environmental Services, Office of Drainage Services, Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory (LSMTL), Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) and Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) among others.