Lagos State Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat has said effective physical planning remained the backbone of a safe, functional and prosperous state.
He spoke yesterday during a ‘Fire Chat’ with the Fellows of Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy (LJLA) 2025/2026 Cohort, held at the Office of the Deputy Governor, Roundhouse, Alausa-Ikeja.
Hamzat said without proper planning, communities would become vulnerable to flooding, disorderly growth, environmental hazards and avoidable hardship for residents.
“Physical planning is essential for ensuring people understand how development decisions are made, why regulations exist, and how orderly urban growth protects lives, property and the future of Nigeria, particularly Lagos State,” he said.
The deputy governor recalled that the experience of Maroko residents was a critical lesson on the dangers of unstructured settlements, emphasising that no society could thrive where people lived in areas exposed to water channels, without defined layouts, infrastructure, or enforceable building standards.
He said the task of the government was not only to respond when people arrived and built indiscriminately, but to create systems that guided development in a way that served everyone, the wealthy and the vulnerable.
Hamzat lamented that one of Africa’s biggest setbacks was the lack of deliberate planning, noting that progress would remain limited until societies began to plan effectively for land use, infrastructure and the pressures of development.
“Planning is not optional, as time and productivity depend on order, structure and adherence to standards, warning that development cannot be driven by personal desire alone,” he said.
Highlighting the complexity of governance, the deputy governor said leaders must weigh decisions based on what benefits the greatest number of people, while also considering environmental realities and shifting economic conditions.
Hamzat said public leadership must anticipate risks, understand how decisions affect ordinary citizens, and ensure policies are balanced to protect social welfare, education, health care and infrastructure delivery.
Addressing broader societal concerns, he called for renewed personal responsibility and a culture of integrity among citizens and leaders, stressing that corruption and distrust weakened institutions and slowed development.
He said: “As leaders and citizens, we need to rebuild trust, strengthen values and adopt a forward-looking mindset that prioritises sustainable planning, discipline and accountability. I want to encourage everyone for continuous dialogue and commitment to reforms that will support orderly growth, improve living conditions and secure the future of Nigeria and our dear state.”
Hamzat concluded by emphasising that fixing societal challenges required collective effort, consistent planning, and courageous leadership, noting that the solutions must be people-centred, realistic and rooted in long-term development priorities.
