In an effort to improve accessibility to physical planning services, the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, in collaboration with the Ogun State Planning and Development Permit Authority (OGPDPA), organized a one-day training session on e-planning and the automation of planning processes.
Read also : Son cuts off mother’s hands with machete in Owode
The training, which took place at the Conference Room of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, was specifically designed for Town Planners, website administrators, and Programme Analysts. Its primary objective was to equip participants with the necessary skills and knowledge to perform their statutory duties, such as evaluating documents and granting building permit approvals, through the Ministry’s website.
Acting General Manager of OGPDPA, TPL. Idowu James, emphasized the significance of automating physical planning processes. He highlighted that this automation would not only make these services more accessible to investors both within Nigeria and in the diaspora but would also enhance the state’s revenue generation. He stated that as technology advances, the traditional analog methods of processing permits will eventually become obsolete, necessitating a transition to digital technology in line with modern requirements.
TPL. Rufus Talabi, Director of the Department of Urban Development, encouraged participants to become proficient in e-planning technology. He explained that this proficiency would not only make them more productive in their respective roles but would also enhance transparency and accountability in their workflow.
The training was conducted in two phases. The first phase focused on teaching website administrators how to work on the backend to monitor, collate, and update information about applications. The second phase dealt with educating users on how to make payments through the website and initiate as well as track the progress of their applications.
In response to the training, a Zonal Town Planning Officer, TPL. Taiwo Adeoye, expressed gratitude on behalf of the participants to the Ministry and Authority for the valuable training. He stated that this training would significantly improve their service delivery by streamlining the process of application for building plan approvals and eliminating bottlenecks.
