Case For Deliberate Urban Renewal in Akure, by Tpl (Dr.) Gbaloba Osunsanmi

Case For Deliberate Urban Renewal in Akure, by Tpl (Dr.) Gbaloba Osunsanmi:

A Rejoinder
By Tpl (Dr. ) Joel Ademisoye, United States

Hello, Chairman of NITP Ondo State Chapter, Tpl (Dr.) Gbaloba Osunsanmi Fnitp. Your call on the Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa to consider and take deliberate action to formulate and implement an Urban Renewal Plan and program for housing in the state capital of Akure, is deemed necessary and warranted.

In your article, you revealed the dilapidated, decaying and poor housing conditions in Akure, the state capital with its unique urban characteristics such as its political function (the location of the state governor’s office, the Ondd State House of Assembly and the State judiciary/High Court), economic/commercial hub of the state, its cultural and educational center of the Sunshine State. Consequently, all roads lead to Akure, the state capital, which has acted as a ‘pull factor’ in contributing to and fueling the rapid process of urbanization, population increase and Akure city growth over the years.

For example, all the university and polytechnic graduates migrated from the 18 Local Government Areas of the state to the state capital of Akure, to seek the greener pastures, employment and educational opportunities and better social life. As a result, these immigrants moving to Akure need a place of accommodation to live. Hence, the need or demand for housing, is part of the doctrine of necessity for their housing, which the Aiyedatiwa government should take seriously by actively intervening through its appropriate housing policy, programs and urban renewal as well.

You might recall that the major urban renewal in Ondo State was undertaken by the Governor Olusegun Mimiko administration, 2009- 2017, which primarily focused on infrastructure development- roads, with the exclusion of the housing sector. Similarly, the Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu government carried out the urban renewal projects (2017- 2023), which centered on the modernization of urban centers, infrastructure-roads, sinking of water boreholes and public facilities. In fact, the Governors Mimiko and Akeredolu’s urban renewal removed many houses from the state’s housing stock via the acquisition houses and demolition of buildings to make way for the right of ways, expansion and widening of the roads in the following towns- Akure, Ondo, Owo, etc. But, it should be mentioned that both the Mimiko and Akeredolu administrations failed to make the rehabilitation and redevelopment of housing in the state a priority area for their government’s intervention and urban renewal programs. Bluntly put, both governments neglected the housing sector in their urban renewal programs.

The Aiyedatiwa administration should adopt and employ a holistic/ comprehensive and inclusive approach to its urban renewal programs in Akure and other major towns to include shelter/ housing, because it is one of the human basic necessities and needs to human existence and survival, therefore, its importance cannot be ignored, it is next only to food. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a paradigm shift in the state government’s urban renewal approach and strategy, to adopt and embrace the appropriate urban renewal philosophy, to include the housing sector in order to prevent or eliminate the existing development and growth of urban slums in Ondo State.This new approach / strategy could be achieved, if the Governor Aiyedatiwa government, is able to prioritize housing in the urban renewal program, increase its budget allocations, donate land for and improve the financial investment of the promotion and supply of the affordable housing for the people, particularly to the urban poor in Ondo State.