Urban Renewal: How our govt turning major towns into smart cities- Abiodun

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has said the vision of his administration is taking shape with urban renewal initiatives across major towns in the state.

Abiodun, who disclosed this when he visited ongoing construction at the Ibara Government Reservation Area (GRA), Abeokuta, said housing projects initiated by his administration had added lustre and beauty to all major cities across the state.

He said the housing initiatives in Kobape, Iperu, Ijebu Ode and Ilaro had transformed the areas and they are, consequently, now being referred to as smart cities.

The governor spoke on the urban renewal schemes of his administration as the first phase of 35 houses are completed at the Ibara GRA.

Abiodun decried the deplorable condition of the State’s GRAs, which he said had become slums and unfit for humans to live in.

The governor expressed satisfaction with the level of work done so far and noted that though work is still in progress, drainages, sidewalks, solar street lights, electricity and water reticulation are already in place.

While assuring that similar projects would be duplicated in other GRAs in Sagamu, Ijebu-Ode and Ota, Prince Abiodun affirmed the continued conversion of the push to pull factor from Lagos, saying his administration believes that it would bring in more people to come, live and invest in Ogun State.

Commissioner for Housing, Jagunmolu Akande Omoniyi, said the Ibara GRA renewal project is meant to modernize the old and abandoned housing estate that was built in 1976 at the creation of the state.