MIMIKO LAUNCHES URBAN RENEWAL STRATEGIES *INAUGURATES LAND RECORDS BEREAU

 

  Ondo State governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko has said that his administration’s urban renewal programme has brought unprecedented transformation to the State within the last 36 months.
According to him, the state government will ensure that every urban community is touched to make life better for the city dwellers.


Dr Mimiko made the assertion on Tuesday while speaking at the launch of the State Urban Renewal Strategies and commissioning of the state land records bureau in Akure the state capital.



The Governor cited the various initiatives in the state, including mega schools, modern markets, automart, mechanic village and beautification projects as parts of the urban renewal programmes to make the state capital and major towns attractive for investors.



He submitted that the land bureau would facilitate easy processing of certificate of occupancy thereby creating wealth for property owners.



He said, “We must adopt a pragmatic approach in dealing with the urban development issues in the state. Having set up the institutional and policy frameworks we have now put in place series of strategies and methologies to achieve the policy objectives.


“This administration committed itself to deep-seated principles of good governance and promised to work for the people. In our Urban Renewal Programme, we have not departed from these principles which among others include equity, fairness, justice, collective fulfilment and peaceful co-habitation.


The governor enumerated the gains of the programme to include asphaltic urban roads, properly co-coordinated drainage system, inter-city Motor Park , massive electrification, street lighting and beautification of the urban environment, the Akure Auto Mart, the ultra modern Mechanic Village , water supply, sanitation and solid waste management.


“Neighbourhood markets have been built at critical nodes of the towns with a view to minimizing inter-urban mobility, providing decent environment to stabilize trade and small businesses. With these renewed markets, we have been able to galvanize the energies of our people and deepened their entrepreneurial capacity through the micro-credit scheme.


“We have started to mobilize and engage the various professional trade groups and artisans towards more productive ventures. Credit facilities are being granted to trade unions and associations to enable them improve in their businesses.


“As part of our drive to improve the economy of the state, we have invested in the computerization and streamlining of land records in the state through the deployment of secure online service for land title from the point of application to issuance of statutory documents of ownership.


In her address at the occasion, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ms Amma Pepple, represented by the Deputy Director, Urban and Regional development, Mr. Rufus Obadare described the strategies as a worthwhile initiative which will go a long way in sanitizing living in our urban areas.
She praised the synergy between the Ministry and the Urban Renewal Programme and recommended it to other states in the federation for emulation.

In his remarks, the director project office of the United Nations Human Settlement Programme, Mr Allioune Bidiane said the physical infrastructural development in the state is all indications of qualitative leadership style of Dr Mimiko.


He solicited the support of the people for the sustainability of the various programmes of development in the state.



Also, the former chairman of the land reform committee, Prof. Akin Mabogunje said the land records bureau of the state government would add values to the lives of the people, stressing that the Mimiko government has given a sense of direction to the people with a view to appreciating their property.



Dele Awogbami,

Press Officer.