Urbanization: Lomé Launches Study on Illegal Occupation of Public Land and Roads

Public Management

Friday, 30 May 2025 14:12

Urbanization: Lomé Launches Study on Illegal Occupation of Public Land and Roads

(Togo First) - The Autonomous District of Greater Lomé (DAGL) has initiated a four-month study to investigate illegal occupation of public reserves and roads, as well as uncontrolled urbanization in Togo’s capital.

The project, launched on May 27, aims to gather comprehensive data to inform effective urban management strategies. The study will analyze the root causes of chaotic city expansion, assess its environmental and social impacts, and recommend measures for improved land use.

Bossa Makagni-Amelété, Director of Strategic Planning and Urban Development at the DAGL, emphasized that the study aligns with the government’s strategic vision for land use planning. “This initiative goes beyond research—it is about reinforcing local governance, securing land tenure, promoting balanced urbanization, and ensuring social and territorial equity,” he said.

This effort follows a prior census of state administrative reserves conducted by the Ministry of Territorial Administration, Decentralization and Traditional Chieftaincy, which began in September 2024 and covered all 13 communes of Greater Lomé.

The DAGL leads land use planning and urban development in the capital, which has experienced rapid population and economic growth in recent decades, often outpacing formal planning standards.

This article was initially published in French by Esaïe Edoh

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

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