Expert Wants Dev Of New Towns

A former Chairman of Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, Mr Makinde Ogunleye, has called for development of new towns in the rural areas throughout the country.

Ogunleye told journalists in Lagos that the new towns would reduce concentration in the cities.

He said that new towns could play crucial role in reducing pressure on facilities and services in cities.

Ogunleye said that the increasing demand for accommodation and high rents in the cities were due to concentration in the cities.

He urged government at all levels to make development of new towns the focus of their transformation agenda.

“But sustainability would be a major problem of the new towns because we lack maintenance culture in Nigeria.

“I think maintenance is a greater challenge than funding of the new towns because with the proper policies and awareness, funding can come from home and abroad,” he said.

Ogunleye suggested that the new towns should be handed over to competent technocrats for proper maintenance.