The Kwara State Government has concluded plans to review the state's 40-year-old master plan, especially as it concerns Ilorin, the capital city.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry Housing and Urban Development, Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatai Adebisi, said this in an interview with our correspondent on the sideline of  the 2013 survey laws and regulations workshop organised by the office of the Surveyor-General of the state for surveyors, survey personnel and local government officials connected with cadastral survey and related activities in the state.

Adebisi stated that it was necessary for state governments to have structured plans on ground so as to control physical development.

According to him, this is to prevent the emergence of shanties around cities, where criminal activities, environment pollution and other issues may hamper people's health.

He said,"The master plan we are using currently in Kwara State is about 40 years old. Because of population explosion, the government has found out that we need to review the master plan in phases; starting with the greater Ilorin master plan. That is going to be a radius of 25 kilometres from the Post Office area.

"Essentially, when that is done, it will capture a number of local government areas like Asa, Moro, Ifelodun and others. By extension, it is not only going to be the LGs in Ilorin alone that will be affected, but various other sizeable ones around the state.

"Once that is reviewed, development areas are going to be identified, and for the purpose of town planning, if they need to do development control, it will ease the work of the planners. When they need to approve building plans, these building plans will be approved in line with what is provided for in the reviewed master plan."

The Surveyor-General of Kwara State, Mr. Lamidi Oyebode, said cadastral survey laws were to safeguard unambiguous definition of location of land, ensure judicious use of land as well as harmonious and peaceful co-existence.

He added that they would aid safety and standards as well as protection of registered interests and public facilities.

A legal practitioner, Mr. Bashir Oladipo, said the land registration office was expected by law and expediency to be located with the surveyor-general's office and not the Bureau of Land, where it was presently located.