The Lagos State Government is expected to improve on the rating Ease of Doing Business with the focus to achieve the agenda of the current administration in ‘Making Lagos a 21st Century Economy’.
To boost the state’s economy, ease of doing business in the state must be improved upon.
These were the key focus of discussion during the Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, NITP, Lagos State Chapter. The Expert discussion segment of the AGM themed, THEMES – Prospects, Challenges and Opportunities for Lagos Residents, had experts spoke to each of the Pillars of Development of the new administration in Lagos.
Giving his welcome speech, Tpl. Bisi Adedire, Chairman NITP Lagos, said “Town planners have vital parts to play in the realization of the THEMES Agenda. Essentially if the agenda of ‘Making Lagos a 21st Century Economy’.”
He stressed that, “the ease of doing business in the state must be improved upon and this begins with the ease of obtaining permit in the state.”
Speaking to the Education and Technology aspect of the agenda, Education Expert, Mr. Atobatele believes there’s need for the Lagos State Government to invest heavily in quality primary and secondary education.
He explained that an educated child would grow up to boost the state’s economy. He also wants the state to embrace technology to ease processes which could in turn generate more income for the state.
Specifically, Atobatele said “obtaining Certificate of Occupancy in the state has been difficult, I have not been able to obtain mine for over 5 years. If there are 100 people who couldn’t get their C of O, that’s stopping the revenue that is supposed to be generated for the state.”
He said with the aid of technology, there might be little or no need to interface with civil servants which would delay the processes.
For his Part, Biodun Otunola, MD/CEO, Planets Project who spoke on Traffic Management and Transportation said there’s need for a Private Sector partnership to improve the transport system in the state.
Otunola believes there’s an urgent need to address bottlenecks which usually cause traffic gridlock in the state.
Speaking on Entertainment and Tourism, Blessing Oladunjoye, Publisher, BONews advised that the sector should be treated with a twin track approach, as a cross cutting issue and as a stand alone.
Butressing on the cross cutting approach to Entertainment and Tourism, Oladunjoye said “road infrastructures, clean environment and waterfront, good power supply would in a long way help to improve the sector and thereafter generate income for the state.”
Oladunjoye said there’s need for LASPARK to be an agency under the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.