ECHOES FROM MALAYSIA. Ogun state is on the march again! The man at the helms of affairs, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has assured that he would not rest on his oars until the dream of a modernized Ogun State in all ramification is achieved. Thus, the reversal of infrastructural decay that is the lot of the state before now, has received and continued to receive widespread approbation from different quarters, yet the administration seem to be saying, work has just began with moves indicative of the desire to totally transform and modernize our dear state in line with the 21st century reality. Having achieved so much in the fixing of infrastructure a la creation of conducive environment for investors with the perfect security ambience that now envelope the state as well as the giant strides recorded in the education sector among other areas in the last two year the focus has now shifted to the Housing, Health and Agricultural sector with a view to pursue those areas with the same zeal and vigour other landmark projects are carried out. The visit of the Ogun State Technical Committee, a delegation of the Ogun State government to Malaysia for a weeklong training on the design of the master plan for the new Abeokuta City Centre and the New Government City is another in the realm of efforts of the incumbent government to revolutionize the housing sector in the state through its urban renewal initiatives, thereby leveraging on the economic opportunities such project of high magnitude entails. The fifteen man delegation on this special mission was led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing, Architect Segun Abiodun. The tour was eventful, memorable and promising as the team comprising of the best crops of professionals carefully selected from the relevant Ministries across the state civil service, transverse the length and breadth of Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia where heritages comfortably sit with nature. The bevy of professionals that made up the Ogun State Technical Committee, include the Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Private Partnership, Mr. Tunde Sodade, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Housing, Mr. Olaniyi Kuforiji, General Manager, Urban and Physical Planning Board, Mr. Stephen Adewolu, Architect Yemisi Awoniyi,Special Assistant on Housing, Mr. Emmanuel Ainabe, Special Assistant on Housing and Mr. Akinruile Oladotun, Economist. Others include, Mr. Olatokunbo Salami, Transport Engineer,of the Bureau of Transport, Mr. Aikulola Olumuyiwa, Engineer, of the Works and Infrastructure Ministry, Mr. Olugbenga Ashiru and Mr. Olusola Odukoya , top notch Town Planners from the Urban and Physical Planning Board, Mr. Aluko Gabriel,Quantity Surveyor, Architect Toyin Kuti,including the media team comprising of Mr. Waheed Ogunjobi, Governor’s Office Correspondent, (OGBC) Mr. Bolaji Ajasa, cameraman (OGTV) and Miss. Islamiyyah Lawal of the New Age Network. The city centre or downtown is the area of a city where commerce, entertainment, shopping and political power are concentrated. The central district business district as it is called in other climes is usually typified by a concentration of retail and office buildings and marked by a higher-than-usual urban density. The idea of a City Centre is rooted in the development of towns and cities into a cosmopolitan city with a view to attract development from all corners through the exploration of the benefits inherent in such endeavour. Kuala Lumpur, the sprawling Malaysian Capital city which has at its main bowl, the Kuala Lumpur City Centre, a perfect example of what a city centre should be in all respect is a place to behold and what any city should aspire to emulate in terms of aesthetic, landscaping, planning and the commercial edge it presents. KLCC as it is fondly called is an international city, business capital and desirable tourist destination in all respect with its avant-grade architecture. The bubbling city which is the financial hub of Malaysia is a perfect landscape that host world class skyscrapers which gives the city its beauty and effervescent both in day time and at night. Kuala Lumpur at night is a beauty to behold and a perfect host , which can rival any world class State Capital. Shopping and tourism, which goes paripasu are those things that give Kuala Lumpur City Centre the edge with vast numbers of luxury malls, stores, street-side stalls, up-scale shops, departmental stores, boutique and vintage retailers and market stalls complemented by a perfect public transportation system. With a combined area of more than 2 million square feet and over 550 specialty outlets, the different malls, cater to the diverse and discerning shoppers, both local and international who trooped to the city on a daily basis to get a bit of its splendors and ecstasy it presents. The idea of developing skyscrapers is a world class fashion that defines world best cities and give them their finesse nay popularity, even as it offers growth opportunities on both short and long term. From London, to New York, Paris to Dubai and the rest of advanced capital cities in the world, skyscrapers is the in-thing .China for instance has at present close to 500 skyscrapers, which is defined as buildings above 125 meters in height. The Petronas Twin Tower in Malaysia before the year 2010 stood erect as not only the tallest building in the world, but the tallest twin tower in the world, before Dubai’s Burj Khalifah which also will soon seize to be the tallest building in the world by the time China completes its groundbreaking Sky City which is designed to be 10 meters above Dubai’s 828 meters high building. In the case of Ogun State, the Lead Urban Designer, and Project Director for the new Abeokuta City Centre and the new Government City, Mr. Mohammed Afeez during one of the interactive session with the Ogun State Technical Committee on the design of the Master Plan had hinted of the proposed sixty storey skyscraper, expected to berth in the central city of Abeokuta the Ogun State Capital, proposed to be the tallest in Africa, with adjoining skyscrapers that will redefine the landscape of the Capital City , Abeokuta and give vent to the idea of Abeokuta City Centre and the New Government City being championed by the Senator Ibikunle Amosun-led administration. According to Hafiz, the project which is a socio-economic generator will significantly enhance the socio-economic growth of Ogun State as well as draw world attention and attract international crowd to the state. As a form of quick education for those who believes such lofty ideas is not meant for this clime, neither is Ogun State ripe for such gigantic projects, skyscrapers where ever they are built are not just built for the sake of it. The promoters surely have factored a lot of things bothering on well being of the common masses as well as economic consideration a la business attraction into it. For instance, the new China Sky City on completion is expected to keep over two thousand vehicle off the street since the residential/ commercial edifice will ensure that large number of people do not have reasons to leave where they reside as the one stop shop provides all their needs without stepping out . Such idea is part of the modern and broad based urban renewal plan in vogue in all parts of the world, which should be embraced by any city desirous of growth. Hafiz also hinted that the consultant is already at the stage of finalizing the Master plan as well as work on the schematic detailed and layout for the first phase of both Abeokuata City Centre and the New Government City which in essence means that the project is expected to kick off soon all things being equal. Another area that will be of help to skeptics is that the project as conceived is expected private sector driven with government expected only to provide the site and services with the enabling environment that will ensure effective take –off. Hafiz revealed further that the first phase of the project will include shopping mall, recreation centre, signature tower, office complexex, hotels and world class Convention Centre The Technical Committee also paid a courtesy call on the Chairman, Export and Import bank of Malaysia ,Mohammed Hashim who lauded the initiative of the Ogun State Government in putting up a City Centre Project and contended that it is an idea that will shoot the state to prosperity in no time just as the case of Malaysia, but warns that the government must be ready to demonstrate necessary political will to get the project actualized and be ready to contain barrages of criticism and differing opinion that will greet its actualization. The team also took time off to catch a glimpse of the wonderful transportation system in Malaysia experiencing firsthand the mono rail, and the rail system as well as the road network in the Malaysian city, that is a perfect transport arrangement. Another wonderful aspect of the tour for the Ogun State Technical Committee was the visit to Putrajaya, the New Capital city of Malaysia described as the world first intelligent garden city and of course a wonder to behold. Putrajaya , a response to the congestion of Kuala Lumpur which the new Ogun State Government City is being patterned after is a lush greenery and botanical gardens spread across the landscape, crisscrossed by large bodies of water and wetlands.
Posted on: Mon, 12 Aug 2013 10:55:57 +0000
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