The Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, has urged the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) to intensify its engagement with the National Assembly in pursuing constitutional amendments that would strengthen physical planning and regional development across Nigeria. He said legislative reforms are necessary to improve coordinated planning and support balanced national development.

Speaking during a meeting with the leadership of the NITP in Abuja, the minister advised the institute to advocate for the transfer of town planning from the residual legislative list to the concurrent legislative list. According to him, such a constitutional amendment would provide a stronger legal framework for effective physical planning and regional development across the country.

Momoh also responded to the institute’s request for increased recruitment of professional town planners into the federal civil service. He explained that employment decisions fall under the responsibility of the Federal Civil Service Commission but directed the ministry’s Permanent Secretary to formally document the manpower needs and forward them to the appropriate authorities for consideration during future recruitment exercises.

The minister further encouraged town planning consultants to register with relevant federal agencies to improve their eligibility for consultancy opportunities. He also disclosed that the Ministry of Regional Development has submitted four strategic policy frameworks to the Federal Executive Council, focusing on spatial equity, regional economic transformation, infrastructure connectivity, and human capital development. He noted that professional town planners would play a key role in implementing these policies once approved.

Earlier, NITP President, Dr. Ogbonna Chime, called for stronger collaboration between the institute and the ministry. He advocated the establishment of a dedicated town planning department within the ministry, increased recruitment of qualified town planners, and greater involvement of professionals in preparing and implementing regional development plans across Nigeria.

Stakeholders believe the proposed constitutional amendment could strengthen urban planning, improve land use management, and support more sustainable infrastructure and housing development across the country.

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The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) has called for deeper collaboration with the Federal Character Commission (FCC) to strengthen infrastructure planning, promote balanced national development and create more employment opportunities for professional town planners across Nigeria.

The appeal was made during a courtesy visit by the NITP National President, Dr. Chime Ogbonna, and members of the institute’s leadership to the Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission, Mrs. Hulayat Motunrayo Omidiran, in Abuja.

Speaking during the meeting, Ogbonna said both institutions share a common objective of ensuring equitable and sustainable development across the country.

He explained that while the NITP is responsible for preparing national physical development plans, regional development frameworks and urban master plans, the FCC plays a critical role in ensuring the fair distribution of public infrastructure, opportunities and resources across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The NITP president urged the commission to strengthen its technical capacity by recruiting more professional town planners and engaging consultant planners to provide expert guidance on the location and development of major government projects.

According to him, involving qualified town planners in infrastructure planning would ensure that projects align with approved master plans, enhance service delivery and support orderly physical development nationwide.

Ogbonna also expressed concern over reports that positions reserved for town planners in some public institutions were being occupied by professionals from unrelated disciplines.

He called for greater recognition of the profession in public sector recruitment and appointments, stressing that proper urban and regional planning remains essential for sustainable development.

Responding, FCC Executive Chairman, Mrs. Hulayat Omidiran, welcomed the delegation and reaffirmed the commission’s willingness to collaborate with the institute.

She acknowledged the technical expertise of town planners and noted that the commission would benefit from professional input in ensuring that infrastructure projects are aligned with existing master plans and national development priorities.

Omidiran stated that the FCC remains committed to engaging professional bodies whose contributions support national growth and development.

She added that effective planning and stronger institutional collaboration are critical to managing the rapid expansion of Nigeria’s cities and communities while ensuring sustainable development outcomes.

The meeting was attended by FCC commissioners representing Taraba and Lagos states, as well as senior officials of the NITP, including the Second National Vice President, Tpl. Dr. Garba Jibrin; National Secretary, Tpl. Dr. Zayyanu Muhammad; Chairman of the NITP Presidential Committee on Youth Employment, Tpl. PK Lami Ayuba; Acting Executive Secretary, Tpl. Jide Bananola; and representatives of the Young Planners Forum of the FCT Chapter.

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The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) has strengthened its international partnership with the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) during a sideline meeting at the ongoing World Urban Forum 13 in Baku, Azerbaijan, aimed at enhancing urban planning development and professional capacity building.

The meeting, held on 22 May 2026 at the UK pavilion, brought together leading urban development experts, policymakers, and planning institutions from across the world.

The NITP delegation was led by Tpl Dr Ogbonna Chime, while the RTPI team was headed by its Vice President, Professor Samer Bagaeen.

Focus on Urban Planning Reform and Capacity Building

Both institutions reviewed progress on their existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and explored new areas of cooperation focused on strengthening town planning practice in Nigeria.

A key outcome of the engagement was RTPI’s commitment to organise a technical workshop on planning tools, professional methodologies, and advocacy strategies.

The workshop is expected to draw on the United Kingdom’s institutional experience in planning advocacy, with the goal of supporting full implementation of Nigeria’s Urban and Regional Planning (URP) Law of 1992.

Training and Digital Planning Collaboration

The two bodies also agreed on academic and professional collaboration involving the University of Built Environment (UBE), which is expected to provide online training programmes for Nigerian planners.

The proposed training will focus on digital town planning, reflecting the global shift toward smart city development, data-driven urban design, and technology-enabled planning systems.

This initiative is aimed at improving technical capacity and aligning Nigeria’s planning profession with global best practices.

RTPI to Participate in NITP International Conference

RTPI also confirmed its intention to participate in the 57th International Conference of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, further strengthening professional ties and promoting knowledge exchange on modern urban development challenges.

The collaboration is expected to enhance institutional relationships and deepen cooperation on sustainable urban development strategies.

Strengthening Global Urban Planning Cooperation

According to NITP officials, the engagement represents a major step in expanding international partnerships that support Nigeria’s urban development agenda.

The discussions were formally signed off by Tpl Dr C.J. Nor, National Public Relations Secretary of NITP, who noted that the collaboration will improve institutional capacity and advance urban planning standards in Nigeria.

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The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) has petitioned the National Assembly over a bill currently before the Senate seeking to establish the Chartered Institute of Planning of Nigeria, cautioning that the proposed legislation could create legal conflicts and institutional confusion within the planning profession.

The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) has raised concerns over a bill that has passed second reading in the Senate, proposing the establishment of the Chartered Institute of Planning of Nigeria, warning that its provisions conflict with existing laws governing planning practice in the country.

In a petition submitted to the National Assembly, the institute argued that the proposed body is empowered to develop and raise planning standards across all sectors of national life, enhance plan implementation, and maintain a register of fellows, associates, chartered planners and honorary planners.

According to the petition, the bill also seeks to empower the proposed institute to set standards of knowledge, skills and competence for membership, license and register practitioners across various faculties, and establish training institutions for education and professional development.

Other outlined functions include promoting a planning culture at individual, institutional, national and international levels; creating public awareness on the relevance of planning in modern society; encouraging research to improve planning techniques; and facilitating effective resource management to achieve optimal development outcomes.

Confirming the development, NITP President, Dr Ogbonna Chime, said the name, objectives and provisions of the bill are largely in conflict with the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, a professional body that has existed for decades.

He faulted the sponsor of the bill for what he described as insufficient research, particularly regarding the duplication of mandates already assigned to existing institutions.

Chime noted that about 95 per cent of the objectives contained in the proposed legislation are already covered by existing laws, including the Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Law of 1992, now Cap 138 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, and the Town Planners Registration Council of Nigeria Law of 1988.

While acknowledging that the sponsor of the bill may have acted with good intentions, he warned that its passage could result in institutional overlap, regulatory conflicts and confusion within the planning profession.

He recalled a similar attempt in 2015, when an organisation registered as the Institute of Planning of Nigeria sponsored a bill that also passed second reading in the Senate before public scrutiny exposed its implications.

According to Chime, the organisation was later deregistered by the Corporate Affairs Commission following investigations. He stressed that globally, planning remains synonymous with town planning, citing Ghana’s Institute of Planning and similar professional structures in other countries.

He argued that transparency, accountability and effective resource management would be better achieved through enforcement of existing laws rather than the proliferation of professional institutions.

NITP, RTPI Partner on Urban Planning Challenges

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners and the United Kingdom’s Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) have agreed to strengthen cooperation aimed at addressing urban planning challenges facing cities.

The partnership, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding signed by RTPI President, Helen Fadipe, and NITP President, Dr Chime, is designed to promote knowledge exchange, professional development and the sharing of global best practices.

Under the agreement, both institutions will encourage mutual visits, joint participation in programmes, co-branding of selected NITP events in Nigeria as RTPI Core Continuing Professional Development activities, and information sharing on professional membership pathways and CPD frameworks.

The MoU also covers collaboration on addressing planning challenges confronting towns and cities, raising awareness of professional development routes, and strengthening continuous learning structures within both organisations.

Both bodies have a history of collaboration through the Commonwealth Association of Planners, and the agreement builds on that longstanding relationship.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Fadipe highlighted the importance of international collaboration in driving sustainable global development, while Chime said the partnership would expose young planners to global standards, professional excellence and shared knowledge.

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The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) has called on the Abia State government to fully implement the Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Law by establishing the State Urban and Regional Planning Agency, Local Planning Authorities and other statutory bodies needed to ensure orderly development.

NITP President, Dr. Chime Ogbonna, made the appeal in Umuahia during the inauguration of Dr. Vera Okoye as the new National Chairman of the Association of Women Town Planners in Nigeria (AWTPN).

Ogbonna noted that although Abia was among the first states to domesticate the national planning law, its benefits have not been fully realised due to institutional gaps.
“Good intentions must be guided by proper planning procedures,” he said. “The NITP is ready to partner with Abia State to strengthen planning institutions and personnel.”

He described Okoye’s inauguration as symbolic, representing leadership renewal and a renewed commitment to using town planning as a tool for national transformation.

He praised AWTPN for its growing visibility and advocacy milestones, expressing confidence that the new leadership would strengthen professional development, mentorship and policy engagement.

Ogbonna encouraged the executives to champion innovative programmes that empower women in planning and inspire young professionals while deepening community participation in spatial development.

Okoye Sets Visionary Agenda

In her inaugural address, Dr. Okoye called for stronger collaboration, enhanced professional capacity and robust advocacy for women’s leadership within the planning profession.

She unveiled her administration’s strategic framework — the C.R.E.A.T.I.V.E.S Visionary Goals (CVG) — focusing on collaboration, interventions, empowerment, advocacy, training, inspiration, visionary action, enlightenment and sustainable mentorship.

Okoye pledged closer collaboration with NITP, the Town Planners Registration Council (TOPREC), ministries, state planning agencies and civil society groups to ensure the full implementation of the 1992 Urban and Regional Planning Law across the country.

“Our aim is to ensure the planning law is not an archival document but a working tool that produces better outcomes for communities and investors,” she said.

She also announced plans to strengthen AWTPN’s internal cohesion through unified chapter activities, mentorship structures, digital training programmes and knowledge-sharing platforms.

Okoye promised assertive advocacy for women’s inclusion in leadership structures and initiatives to promote the achievements of women planners. She also outlined plans for school outreach programmes to inspire young girls to pursue careers in urban planning.

Outgoing Chair Highlights Achievements

Earlier, outgoing national chairman Mrs. Rekiyat Fache announced that AWTPN’s membership had grown from 140 to 709 under her leadership, with 10 new states joining the association. She also highlighted the association’s role in safeguarding the Osun-Osogbo Grove from delisting as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Fache noted that AWTPN chapters across Nigeria carried out planning interventions such as partial slum upgrades, building repairs, drainage cleanups, market sanitation, tree planting and climate action projects.

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Town planners across Nigeria have been encouraged to strengthen professional ethics, deepen technical competence, and adopt modern technologies to enhance planning practice and support sustainable national development.

This call was made by former President of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Nathaniel Atebije, during the inauguration of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter of the Association of Town Planning Consultants of Nigeria (ATOPCON) in Abuja.

Atebije, delivering a paper titled “Flawless Professionalism: The Soul of Enduring Practice in Urban and Regional Planning,” said ethical discipline, institutional memory, and continuous learning remain the backbone of credible planning practice.

Professionalism as the Anchor of Planning

He described professionalism as the conscience of the urban planning field, noting that planners must combine competence, civic responsibility, and integrity to guide the complex socio-spatial development of cities.

According to him, “Flawless professionalism is not about perfection but about consistently maintaining technical accuracy, ethical conduct, and moral clarity.”

Atebije emphasised that planners serve not only as development technicians but also as moral stewards responsible for shaping cities that balance justice, efficiency, and aesthetic value. He warned that without strong ethical foundations, urban planning risks becoming bureaucratic or profit-driven, with little regard for the public interest.

Ethics, Competence, and Integrity

He identified competence, integrity, and service to society as the three essential pillars of lasting planning practice.
He added that institutional memory— the preservation of professional knowledge— is vital in preventing the erosion of standards and policy inconsistency.

Atebije also stressed that planners must navigate competing interests such as growth versus conservation and private investment versus collective welfare, using sound judgment and ethical imagination.

ATOPCON’s Role as Innovators

Speaking on the mandate of ATOPCON, he described the association as the entrepreneurial engine of the planning profession, urging it to lead new innovations, uphold ethics, train young professionals, and collaborate with regulators like TOPREC and NITP.

He called for:

•  Mentorship structures
•  Continuous professional development (CPD)
•  Strong peer-review mechanisms
•   Documentation of practice experience
• Innovation labs for digital planning and sustainable design

Driving Abuja Toward Smart-City Status

In his welcome remarks, ATOPCON President Hakeem Badejo challenged the Abuja Branch to champion emerging technologies that will position Abuja as one of the world’s most liveable cities.

His targets include:

• Proposals on AI for governance
• Exploring Web3 tools for urban management
• Planning models for automated vehicles and eVTOL mobility
• Regenerative slum redevelopment strategies

‘A Long-Overdue Step for Abuja’

Coordinator of the new ATOPCON branch, Dr. Emmanuel Agbator, described the inauguration as overdue, noting that Abuja—despite its rapid and complex development—had long lacked an ATOPCON structure.

He assured that the branch would work collaboratively with relevant stakeholders to improve planning outcomes and strengthen urban governance in the FCT.

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The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, has urged state governments to adopt and implement the Urban and Regional Planning Law (Decree 88 of 1992), blaming its neglect for Nigeria’s uncoordinated urban growth.

Speaking at the NITP National Colloquium in Abuja, Dangiwa lamented that only two states  including Katsina  have operationalized the law more than 30 years after its enactment. He said the failure has fuelled informal settlements and poor city planning.

The minister praised the NITP for promoting dialogue on sustainable development and pledged the Federal Government’s commitment under the Renewed Hope Agenda to ensure nationwide adoption of the law.

“Urban and regional planning is the backbone of sustainable growth, efficient infrastructure, and social well-being,” Dangiwa said.

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Speaking at the opening of the 56th International Conference and Annual General Meeting of the institute at the Nicon Luxury Hotel in Abuja, Ogbonna said effective enforcement of the law is crucial to addressing uncoordinated urban expansion, land misuse, and environmental degradation.

“The way forward is clear, Nigeria must embrace the full implementation of the Urban and Regional Planning Law of 1992, now codified as Cap. 138 of the Laws of the Federation. This Law remains the most comprehensive framework for planning administration in our country.

“Its faithful implementation will ensure coherence among the three tiers of Government, provide for the preparation and periodic review of development plans, establish effective mechanism for development control and strengthen the participation of citizens in shaping their environment.”

He also noted that poor compliance and weak institutional structures have hindered the effectiveness of planning efforts nationwide. According to him, implementing the law will ensure balanced urban growth, improved infrastructure, and better living conditions for citizens.

“If properly implemented, it will reduce haphazard development, stabilize land use patterns, protect the environment, and foster the kind of sustainable and inclusive urban growth we all desire.” He stated

Concluding his address, The NITP President commended the Federal Government for prioritising housing development under the Renewed Hope Agenda, but stressed that housing must be seen as part of a broader urban and regional planning framework. He explained that sustainable cities can only be achieved when planning is properly administered to integrate land use, infrastructure, and social services within a unified development strategy.

“At this point, i must commend the Federal Government for its commitment to the housing sector under the Renewed Hope Agenda. However we must also emphasize that housing is only a subset of urban and regional planning. Whenever planning is rightly administered, housing finds its natural place as part of a larger system of integrated land use, infrastructure and social service delivery”

Ogbonna reaffirmed the NITP’s readiness to partner with the government at all levels to strengthen planning institutions, enforce development control, and promote inclusive urban growth.

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Housing and Urban Development Minister, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, has criticized most states for failing to adopt the Urban and Regional Planning Law (Decree 88 of 1992), over 30 years after its passage.

Speaking at a colloquium by the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) in Abuja, Dangiwa said only two states, including Katsina, have domesticated the law, a lapse he described as a setback to orderly urban growth.

“It is regrettable that only two States have adopted and operationalised this law,” he said, blaming weak institutions, poor coordination, and low awareness for the delay.

He said the ministry, under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, is working to ensure nationwide adoption and modernisation of the law to match global planning standards.

Dangiwa also noted that the ministry had completed the review of the National Urban Development Policy and is finalising policies on Physical Planning Standards and Rural Settlements, aimed at balanced regional development.

He urged state governments and professionals to prioritize planning as a tool for sustainable growth and livable communities.

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The former Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Sciences at the University of Lagos, Professor Leke Oduwaye, has described town planners as “prophets” of housing and urban development, emphasizing that strategic planning is essential to prevent uncoordinated growth and costly demolitions. Speaking at the 2025 Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Ogun State Chapter, held in Abeokuta, Oduwaye stressed the need for forward-thinking settlement planning to ensure sustainable urban expansion.

The meeting, which carried the theme “Conflicting Rationalities: The Challenge of Urban and Physical Development in Nigeria,” brought together key stakeholders in the built environment to reflect on the growing complexities of urban growth in Nigeria. According to Oduwaye, the role of the planner is predictive and preventive. “Planners are like prophets,” he said. “They envision what settlements should become using knowledge, theory, and legal frameworks that guide development.”

He warned that Ogun State, one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing regions, risks slipping into urban chaos if it continues to expand without comprehensive and well-funded spatial planning. “It doesn’t cost much to plan. Government can start small—perhaps one town per senatorial district—allocating funds annually for the development of master plans,” he suggested. Oduwaye also pointed to several underlying factors driving disjointed development, including political interference, lack of funding, the presence of unqualified practitioners, and ethnic influences. He proposed reforms such as a streamlined “one-desk system” for planning approvals, land swap models to fund consultancy services, and the development of bankable master plans that could attract private sector support.

In his remarks, the Chairman of NITP Ogun State Chapter, Tpl. Adefela Sogbesan, addressed a widespread public misconception that town planners are responsible only for demolition activities. “There’s a belief that planners are out to demolish buildings,” he said. “But with proper professional input from the beginning, buildings will be sited correctly, eliminating the need for demolition entirely.”

Representing the Ogun State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Tpl. Olatunji Odunlami, senior official Mr. John Olutunde reiterated the government’s commitment to updating housing and urban planning laws to align with evolving realities. He commended the institute’s efforts and assured participants of the state’s ongoing support for professional planning initiatives.

The meeting closed with a collective call for more transparent planning processes, improved public education, and enhanced collaboration among government agencies, professionals, and communities to safeguard Nigeria’s urban future.

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