BENIN: Parliament examines a long-awaited bill on sustainable urban planning

The government's Action Programme (PAG), which aims to transform Benin's economy and environment, is now taking legal action through the examination of a bill on sustainable urban planning. It is expected to compel civil society to "adopt new rules for living in cities".

New legislation on sustainable urban planning in Benin? Parliamentarians in this West African country will soon have the answer. The bill currently being assessed aims to reinvent urban areas through a land-use plan and binding legal measures to ensure that land-use planning and the preservation of natural areas are respected.

Cities such as Cotonou, known for its economic dynamism, Parakou with its 58 districts, Abomey, prized for its historical symbols (former kingdom of Dahomey) and the capital Porto-Novo, have lost some of their appeal in recent years. The causes include the intensity of polluting economic activities, the dumping of wastewater and solid waste along the roads and riverbanks, and the illegal construction that is taking place.

“It is a question of taking into account the context of modernisation and accelerated urban development in order to be able to cope with the shortage of housing and services and the rapid growth of conurbations. It will also be necessary to take account of the decentralisation context to facilitate the partnership between the State and the municipalities with the private sector, with a view to attracting potential investors”, reports the Benin Ministerial Council.

If promulgated, the law on urban planning will make it possible to toughen the penalties provided for in existing legislation. These include the Land and Property Code that Benin’s elected representatives adopted in 2013 and the 2018 law on the protection of Benin’s coastal zone. This legal arsenal focused on sustainable development is accompanied by administrative measures such as the invoicing of waste collection services in the councils of Sèmè-Podji and Ouidah, among others. The Waste management and urban hygiene company of Grand Nokoué (SGDS-GN) has confirmed this decision for residents from January 2023.