Professor Timothy Gbenga Nubi of the [University of Lagos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Lagos) warned that without a coordinated planning framework, [Ogun State](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogun_State) could devolve into a mere dormitory and waste‑dump for Lagos, given its immediate proximity to Nigeria’s commercial capital.
**What was the occasion?**
The warning was delivered during the 40th anniversary of the [Nigerian Institute of Town Planners](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigerian_Institute_of_Town_Planners) (NITP) Ogun State chapter, held at the June 12 Cultural Centre in Abeokuta. The event’s theme, “Honouring the Past: Designing the Future,” set the stage for discussions on long‑term spatial strategy.
**Key observations from the keynote address**
- Nubi stressed that “proximity does not create prosperity; it has to be planned.”
- He described Ogun’s location within the Lagos metropolitan area as strategically valuable, yet the state has failed to convert this advantage into a coherent metropolitan development plan.
- Rapid urbanisation along the Isheri‑Ibafo‑Mowe‑Sagamu corridor has produced serious planning gaps, especially in the border zones.
- Existing instruments such as the Ogun State Regional Development Plan 2005‑2025, the Development Pressure Area framework, and the “Gateway City” concept have not been fully realised, as seen in unchecked growth around Mowe, Ibafo, Ofada and nearby settlements.
**What solutions did Nubi propose?**
He advocated for a complementary metropolitan strategy that balances a hierarchy of cities, designated growth centres, transport corridors, affordable housing sites, and protected ecological and agricultural zones. He called for updated master plans for Abeokuta, Sagamu, Ijebu‑Ode, Ilaro and other key urban centres, anchored by a state‑wide spatial development framework.
**Priorities for the next forty years**
- Renewed spatial planning and regular review of master plans.
- Strengthened coordination between Lagos and Ogun authorities.
- Integrated transport and land‑use planning.
- Expansion of affordable housing and upgrading of informal settlements.
- Enhancing environmental resilience and digital planning tools.
- Building stronger institutions and financing mechanisms to implement the plans.
**Government response**
[Deputy Governor Noimot Salako‑Oyedele](https://www.ogunstate.gov.ng) echoed the theme’s relevance, emphasizing that town planning goes beyond drawing layouts; it creates livable communities where people can work, travel safely and enjoy a good quality of life. She warned that today’s development choices could become tomorrow’s problems, citing risks of traffic congestion, flooding, environmental degradation and unplanned settlements if proactive planning is not pursued. Salako‑Oyedele assured that concerns raised, including those about the Sango‑Ota road, have been noted and will be addressed.
**Professional perspectives**
The National President of the NITP, Tpl Chime Ogbonna, represented by Lagos chapter chairman Tpl David Olawale, highlighted Ogun’s role as a major industrial hub in the South‑West and stressed that current planning decisions will shape regional liveability for the next four decades. He praised the Ogun chapter for implementing the state’s Urban and Regional Planning Law, promoting inclusive housing and mentoring young planners.
**Reflections on the institute’s legacy**
Tpl Olusola Odukoya, chairman of the NITP Ogun State chapter, reflected on the institute’s 40‑year journey, noting that its impact is measured not just in years but in lives touched, barriers overcome and the legacy passed to future generations. He called for fresh imagination, bold leadership and a firm commitment to the next generation of planners.