Posted by By FEMI BABAFEMI on
The Lagos State government, in colaboration with the World Bank, will spend a whopping sum of N22.5 billion to upgrade nine slums into model cities in a project that will witness massive demolition of weak buildings in six local government areas of the state.
The Lagos State government, in colaboration with the World Bank, will spend a whopping sum of N22.5 billion to upgrade nine slums into model cities in a project that will witness massive demolition of weak buildings in six local government areas of the state.
This project, is designed to reduce the number of slums which is now put at 42.
According to the project design, "it is estimated that about two-thirds of the city population currently lives in slums. The slum areas are characterised with squalor, noise, stench, narrow ditches that are often clogged with garbage."
Sources in the governor's office, where the project is being co-ordinated under the ‘Lagos Metropolitan Development and Governance Project (LMDGP),' revealed that the slum areas which are to be upgraded under the scheme include Makoko, Iwaya, Agege, Ajegunle, Ijeshatedo, Badia, Amukoko, Ilaje and Bariga, all located across six council areas of the state.
To ensure early commencement of the project, Daily Sun gathered that a project director is to be appointed this week. Already, Tuesday, January 3, 2006 has been fixed for a final interview with the candidate for the position.
The project, which is being financed through a 160 million dollars assistance from the World Bank is being done in anticipation of the growing population of the state presently put at 15million and expected to reach the 25 million mark by 2015.
Beside the inability of dwellers of these slum areas to have access to moderate facilities, government is also worried that the areas serve as breeding places for crime while "perennial flooding is also of great concern because of the general flat terrain, which poses serious threat to lives and properties."
Daily Sun gathered that in the course of redeveloping the slum areas, many of the existing structures, including dilapidated buildings, those obstructing drainage flow, and those built close to the road, among others, will be pulled down.
Already, a conflict resolution centre has been set up to resolve the various disputes that may arise in the course of the project.