1 day Ago By Josephine Ogundeji
The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners has expressed reservations about Nigeria’s failure to establish the National Urban and Regional Planning Commission, 30 years after it was mandated by law. Speaking recently at the unveiling of the Nathaniel Atebije Foundation for Planning Advocacy and the 70th birthday celebration of the institute’s immediate past president, Nathaniel Atebije, NITP President Dr. Ogbonna Chime lamented the Federal Government’s prolonged neglect in implementing the Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Law enacted in 1992.
“In 1992, under a military government, the Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Law was enacted. This law provided for the establishment of key planning institutions, including a National Urban and Regional Planning Commission. Unfortunately, that commission has yet to be established over 30 years later.
“Even in Abuja, the capital city, the Federal Capital Urban and Regional Planning Board, also mandated by the same law, remains non-existent. If this had been done, we wouldn’t be facing the recurrent flood problems we have today. But the board was never established, and the plan was never prepared.
” The absent commission, according to Chime, would have been responsible for preparing a National Physical Development Plan and a National Drainage Plan, leveraging the expertise of professionals across the built environment. He continued, “These professionals – civil engineers, land planners, architects, and land surveyors – understand the geography and topography of their regions. They could have produced a national drainage plan to manage water flow and reduce flood risk.
” Chime criticised the disconnection between planning professionals and government decision-making. He said, “Many planning decisions are made without the input of professional town planners, and that is why advocacy is so critical. We have been advocating for over 20 to 25 years, yet government response has been minimal.
Any settlement without a plan is a disaster waiting to happen. “A plan without implementation is essentially no plan at all; the Federal Government should begin enforcing the 1992 law. Once we begin to enforce the Urban and Regional Planning Law, Nigerian cities can rival cities like London or any other advanced urban centre.
” Echoing this sentiment, the celebrant, Nathaniel Atebije, highlighted the importance of legally backed planning. Related News Commission restates commitment to residents’ safety Adamawa plans commission to tackle farmer-herder clash Sanwo-Olu unveils energy commission to boost power supply He stated, “The Nigerian government enacted the Urban and Regional Planning Law in 1992, later amended in 2004. Unfortunately, these laws have not been fully enforced, either at the national level or domesticated at the state and local government levels.
Any action taken without legal authority is ineffective and ultimately invalid.” Also speaking at the event, the Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Adamu Ahmed, added a moral and ethical dimension to the conversation. “Planning must be rooted in fairness and human dignity, not just efficiency and growth,” he noted.
Human beings are caretakers, not owners, of the natural environment,” he asserted, urging planners to rise to this spiritual calling. Also speaking at the event, President of the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria, Akintoye Adeoyo, stated that housing was a fundamental human right. He added, “Every Nigerian deserves the dignity of a home.
Through strategic advocacy, meaningful partnerships, and forward-thinking innovation, like the foundation we are launching today, we can make this vision a reality.” Adeoye stressed the significance of collaboration, citing the roles of REDAN, the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, and other institutions in driving sustainable housing development. “We believe real estate is not just about constructing buildings; it is about shaping lives, communities, and economies.
Advocacy plays a vital role in building a housing sector that is inclusive, well-regulated, and sustainable,” he said. In his address, the Chairman of the occasion, John Abuh, bemoaned the state of urban infrastructure and leadership disconnect, recalling historical missteps and missed opportunities in urban development across the country. “We travel for Hajj, to Jerusalem, to Europe; we admire what we see but return home with no intention to implement those ideas.
The result? A lack of planning, and we can’t continue like this,” he said..
