Stakeholders in Nigeria’s built environment sector have called on the Federal Government to actively engage indigenous physical planners in the implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda, warning that development efforts without proper planning could lead to fragmented and unsustainable outcomes.
The call was made during the maiden annual lecture organised by the Nathaniel Atebije Foundation for Planning Advocacy in Abuja, where professionals, policymakers, academics, politicians, and development experts gathered to discuss the future of urban planning and sustainable development in Nigeria.
The event featured a keynote lecture delivered by the Vice Chancellor of Bells University of Technology, Prof. Jeremiah Ojediran.
In a communiqué jointly signed by the convener of NAFPA, Nathaniel Atebije, and the Chairman of the Maiden Lecture Planning Committee, Barnabas Atiyaye, participants stressed that planning must serve as the foundation for all development initiatives under the Federal Government’s economic and infrastructure programmes.
According to the stakeholders, Nigeria’s rapid urban growth remains largely unstructured, resulting in worsening congestion, flooding, environmental degradation, and the spread of informal settlements across cities.
They warned that many ongoing projects under the Renewed Hope Agenda, including housing and infrastructure developments, are being executed without proper spatial integration.
“Cities are expanding without structure, leading to severe economic and social consequences. Development without coordinated planning creates unsustainable urban systems,” the communiqué stated.
The participants further argued that physical development should not be mistaken for physical planning, noting that infrastructure projects implemented without coordinated master plans often create long-term urban management challenges.
They also expressed concern that housing initiatives may fail to deliver lasting value if they are not properly connected to transportation systems, drainage infrastructure, utilities, and environmental frameworks.
As part of their recommendations, the stakeholders urged the Federal Government to accelerate the completion of the long-delayed National Physical Development Plan, which has remained pending for over 15 years.
According to them, the national framework is necessary to guide balanced regional growth, urban expansion, and coordinated infrastructure development across Nigeria.
The participants further called for strict compliance with approved master plans and structure plans in all cities and urban centres.
They insisted that planning regulations should be treated as legally binding instruments rather than optional guidelines, warning that weak enforcement continues to fuel illegal developments and chaotic urbanisation.
The stakeholders also proposed that Federal Government projects should only be approved in states and local government areas with up-to-date master plans.
According to them, such a policy would compel sub-national governments to prioritise physical planning before embarking on major infrastructure and housing projects.
The communiqué additionally raised alarm over increasing encroachment on green areas, wetlands, and environmentally sensitive zones, particularly within the Federal Capital Territory.
Participants lamented that green coverage in Abuja has reportedly declined to about 17 percent, far below the 33 percent allocation contained in the Abuja Master Plan.
They warned that continued violations of designated green and open spaces could gradually transform Abuja from the “green city” envisioned in the original master plan into what they described as a “brown city.”
The stakeholders further condemned what they described as illegal and unprofessional changes of land use in Abuja, accusing political actors and developers of disregarding planning regulations with impunity.
According to them, unauthorised developments, weak zoning enforcement, and uncontrolled urban expansion continue to undermine the original vision of Abuja as a planned and environmentally sustainable capital city.
They called on relevant authorities to immediately halt further encroachment on green spaces and reverse existing violations to restore order and environmental balance within urban centres.
