Lagos State Informal Space Management Authority (LASISMA) has partnered with the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA) to improve accessibility and economic empowerment for Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs) across informal urban spaces in Lagos.
EpeInsights gathered that the strategic inter-agency engagement was hosted recently at LASISMA’s headquarters on Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja, and was led by the General Manager of LASISMA, Tpl. Daisi Oso, and the General Manager of LASODA, Mrs. Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal.
The high-level meeting focused on aligning efforts to integrate inclusive practices into the state’s rapidly growing informal urban corridors, areas which serve as hubs for micro-enterprise and community interaction but often lack provisions for disability access and participation.
Mrs. Oyetunde-Lawal emphasized the urgency of inclusive urban planning, noting that “Lagos is evolving rapidly, and it is crucial that our city’s informal spaces, which are economic lifelines for many, are made more inclusive and accessible to our PWD community.”
She applauded LASISMA for opening up space for these forward-thinking conversations and called for bolder action in embedding disability-focused strategies into development plans.
Welcoming the LASODA team, Tpl. Daisi Oso gave a detailed presentation on LASISMA’s transformation from the former Lagos State Physical Planning and Environmental Monitoring Authority (LASPEMA) into a more dynamic, mandate-driven institution.
He highlighted LASISMA’s legal grounding under the Urban and Regional Planning and Development Laws of 2015 and 2019 (as amended), and outlined several innovation-driven projects aimed at reorganising and empowering informal sectors.
Among the projects unveiled were; hybrid Solar-Powered Air Compressors for Vulcanisers, Solar-Powered Green Kiosks and Urban Agriculture Greenhouses under power lines.
Tpl. Oso stated that these interventions are designed not only to promote economic sustainability but also to intentionally create space and opportunities for PWDs to participate and thrive within informal ecosystems.
A key moment in the session was the presentation of 3D mock-ups of proposed urban redevelopment projects at strategic locations like Oko-Oba Abattoir Canal, Ikorodu and the Abule-Egba Jubilee Bridge.
While impressed by the scale and vision of the designs, Mrs. Oyetunde-Lawal raised critical observations regarding the absence of disability-friendly features, such as access ramps and navigational signage.
She urged LASISMA to integrate inclusive design principles from the outset and called for the inclusion of disability-specific provisions in LASISMA’s Operational Development Plans (ODPs).
Furthermore, she encouraged the agency to prioritise leadership development by mentoring young professionals to continue driving a vision of inclusive governance.
The meeting concluded on a note of mutual commitment, with both agencies pledging closer collaboration in the coming months, setting a new benchmark for inclusive urban development in Lagos and across the continent.
