In an attempt to correct perceived improper planning of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, the state House of Assembly has called on the state government to re-present the State Urban and Regional Planning Bill.

It was gathered that the bill, which was tabled before the last Assembly but was not passed into law, observed that the improper planning of the state capital had resulted in lack of consideration for access roads with some areas prone to flood.

The motion, entitled, Ensuring the Proper Planning of Our Urban Centre", was moved by the Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Hon. Suleiman Sunaboro and three other members.

The motion reads in parts, "The master plan of Ilorin City has been abandoned while land owners sell their land without recourse to the proper planning of the city.

"As a result of this improper planning, there is little or no consideration for access roads with adequate drains, thereby making some areas prone to flood disaster and some landlords are in the habit of illegal conversion of their property to other uses without due approval from the appropriate authority."

Reading the resolution, the Deputy Speaker, Professor Gana Yisa, who presided over the plenary session, directed the state's Town Planning and Development Authority, to embark on sensitisation of land owners and developers on the need to comply with the authority's regulations while offenders should face the consequence.

He said the Town Planning and Development Authority should, as a matter of urgency, embark on the proper layout of the city and all urban areas in the state.

Yisa also said the legislature called on the customary land owners to always liaise with the TPDA for proper layout of their landed property before the sale of such land.

In his submission during the debate, Hon. Kamaldeen Fagbemi, noted that effective town planning for a city was inevitable, considering its benefits for the citizenry.

Fagbemi argued that some parts of the state capital are in pathetic state owing to wrong planning done in the city.