Drone mapping of the state’s Informal Urban Spaces (IUS) has been initiated by the Lagos State Government through the Lagos State Planning and Environmental Monitoring Authority (LASPEMA) with the goal of sanitizing the important landed areas.
The effort is anticipated to address the mishandling of Informal Urban Spaces, which are areas that result from the construction and delivery of public infrastructure projects in the State, including the Blue and Red train lines projects and the Abule-Egba Jubilee Bridge.
In line with SDG Goal 11, which is about making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable, this initiative highlights the Babajide Sanwo-Olu Administration’s T.H.E.M.E.S Plus Agenda and commitment to proactive and inclusive Urban Management and Sustainable Development practices that are in tandem with Making Lagos a 21st Century Economy.
Coordination of the sustainable use of all informal urban spaces is the responsibility of LASPEMA, an organization overseen by the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development’s Office of Physical Planning. The majority of these spaces arose from the government’s implementation and delivery of infrastructure projects.
The Lagos State Planning and Environmental Monitoring Authority (LASPEMA) General Manager, Tpl. Daisi Oso, addressed the media about the mapping exercise and stated: “The State has, over the years, witnessed the unguided use of these spaces and contended with their unauthorised governance by non-state actors whose activities hinder the growth of Informal Business and impinge on the effectiveness of physical development plans.”
According to Tpl Oso, if the issue is not addressed and taken on head-on, it will cause a serious crisis that will negatively impact the State’s vital infrastructure and, consequently, the Center of Excellence’s economy. This is because the Informal Economy is quite large and dynamic and needs to be properly regulated, coordinated, and monitored in order to foster orderliness, aesthetics, and sustainability of the Urban face of Lagos.
Agbado-Oke Odo Local Council Development Area was one of the Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas where the LASPEMA team completed the mapping exercise. The Chairman, Hon. David Famuyiwa, was excited to meet the team and expressed confidence in LASPEMA’s work as an indication of Lagos State Government’s strong commitment to addressing issues facing the Abule Egba Jubilee Bridge area.
The Office of Physical Planning, led by Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, and the Office of Urban Development, headed by Dr. Olajide Babatunde, Special Adviser to the Governor on e-GIS and Urban Development, collaborated on the Drone Mapping project, which was led by the General Manager of LASPEMA.
In order to implement sustainable planning methods that will improve inclusion, LASPEMA has been able to take advantage of the chance to utilize and harness the power of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) to develop precise and detailed maps of emerging lands in State urban environments.
The Agency’s dedication to embracing innovation and technology as drivers of positive change is further demonstrated by the Drone Mapping Initiative.