By our Reporter
The Bayelsa State Government has said it will intensify its urban renewal and development drive to modernize the state capital, Yenagoa, and quality of life of its residents.
Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, deputy governor of the state, made this known during a courtesy visit by the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) at the Government House, Yenagoa, on Thursday.
He said although Bayelsa lost the golden opportunity of carefully planning the city of Yenagoa from the onset, the Governor Douye Diri-led Prosperity Administration will prioritize the planning of the capital in line with global best standards.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo pointed out that government had already designated a planning area, known as the New Yenagoa City, noting that no effort would be spared in building the new city according to plan to forestall disorderly development.
He equally assured that government would not abandon the old Yenagoa, but will rather continue to make concerted efforts in implementing its urban renewal policy to give every part of the city a facelift.
Emphasizing the importance of the role of town planners in the development of a city, the deputy governor blamed the problem of haphazard development of major cities in the country on failure to give proper attention to town planning.
His words: “The role of town planners is very important in the orderly development of a city, without which there will always be haphazard development.
“Nigeria’s problem is failure in paying enough attention to town planning. As a state, we are in a hurry to catch up development with other states because we didn’t start on the right footing. We lost the opportunity of planning Yenagoa from the onset.
“We have made planning Yenagoa a top priority, going forward. There is a planning area which has been designated as the New Yenagoa City.
“We will continue to embark on aggressive urban renewal and no stone would be left unturned in our drive to build the New Yenagoa city.”
Delivering his address, the National President of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, Mr. Nathaniel Atebije, commended the state government for its physical planning efforts and aggressive infrastructural drive so far disclosed
Mr. Atebije, who said that the NITP was holding its national meeting in Bayelsa for the fourth time, called on government to create a separate ministry for town planning, and the provision of land to build its state secretariat in Yenagoa.
The NITP boss also appealed to government to support the construction of the institute’s national secretariat in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The Acting National President of the Town Planners Registration Council of Nigeria (TPRCN), Mr Ezekiel Gunn, the Executive Chairman, Bayelsa State Physical Planning and Development Board, Hon. Kuroakigha Dorgu, and former Secretary to the State Government, Alaowei Gideon Ekeuwei, were part of the NITP delegation.
