The Ondo State Government has commenced the demolition of buildings and other structures obstructing waterways and government setbacks in Akure, the state capital, as part of efforts to reduce flooding, control erosion, and strengthen compliance with physical planning regulations. The exercise is intended to improve drainage infrastructure ahead of the peak rainy season and reduce the risk of flood-related disasters.

The demolition, which began along Oyemekun Road, is being jointly carried out by the Ondo State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development and the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Technical and Ecological Control. Government officials said the affected structures were found to be obstructing natural drainage channels and violating approved planning standards.

Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Sunday Olajide, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry’s Building Control Unit, Abimbola Tofowomo, warned developers and property owners against erecting buildings on waterways or within government setbacks without the necessary approvals. He reiterated that the government would continue enforcing planning regulations to promote orderly urban development and public safety.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Technical and Ecological Control, Elisha Ebijimi, disclosed that owners of the affected properties had been served statutory notices before the demolition commenced. He explained that the operation would pave the way for the expansion of blocked drainage channels and the construction of concrete retaining walls to improve stormwater management and reduce erosion.

According to Ebijimi, inspections revealed deliberate obstruction of drainage openings, resulting in trapped stormwater beneath sections of the road. Engineers have since begun clearing the affected areas to restore water flow and assess the integrity of the road infrastructure before rehabilitation works continue.

Urban planning experts have consistently stressed that protecting waterways, enforcing development control regulations, and maintaining effective drainage systems are essential to reducing flood risks in rapidly growing cities. They note that compliance with approved building plans and setback requirements remains critical to creating safer and more resilient urban communities.

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The Lagos State Government has sealed more than 20 properties in Ikeja Local Government Area for violating physical planning regulations, as authorities intensify enforcement of planning laws to promote orderly urban development and reduce the risk of building failures. The exercise was carried out by the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) as part of its ongoing compliance drive.

The affected properties include undeveloped plots, buildings under construction, and structures with unauthorised extensions that were found to be in breach of the Lagos State Physical Planning Law. Officials said the enforcement action followed routine inspections aimed at identifying developments that failed to obtain the required planning approvals before construction.

Speaking during the exercise, Permanent Secretary of the Office of Physical Planning, Olayinka Wasiu, said compliance with planning regulations is essential to preventing building collapse, protecting lives and property, and ensuring sustainable physical development across the state. He noted that property owners and developers must obtain the necessary permits before commencing any construction activities.

LASPPPA also reiterated that enforcement measures are intended to encourage voluntary compliance rather than punish developers. The agency urged owners of affected properties to regularise their documentation and comply with planning requirements before resuming construction or occupancy.

Urban planning professionals have welcomed the renewed enforcement, arguing that strict compliance with planning laws is necessary to improve public safety, preserve infrastructure, and support sustainable urban growth. They also called for faster permit approval processes and greater public awareness to encourage compliance and reduce illegal developments.

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Urban planning experts have warned that increasing violations of planning permit regulations are undermining orderly physical development across Nigeria, contributing to building collapses, flooding, environmental degradation, and significant economic losses. They say the growing trend of commencing construction without obtaining statutory approvals is weakening the country’s urban planning framework and exposing communities to avoidable risks.

According to industry stakeholders, many developers and property owners continue to adopt a “build first, regularise later” approach, largely due to lengthy approval processes, bureaucratic bottlenecks, and the high cost of obtaining planning permits. Experts argue that while these challenges exist, bypassing planning regulations compromises public safety and sustainable urban growth.

Professionals in the built environment noted that planning approvals are essential because they ensure developments comply with approved land use, structural standards, environmental requirements, and safety regulations before construction begins. They stressed that proper supervision by planning authorities throughout the construction process significantly reduces the risk of structural failures and other hazards.

Recent enforcement actions by several state governments, particularly in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, and the Federal Capital Territory, have targeted illegal developments through building seals, demolitions, permit regularisation programmes, and digital approval systems. Authorities believe these measures will improve compliance while promoting safer and more organised urban development.

Experts have also recommended the adoption of fully digital planning permit systems, transparent approval charges, public awareness campaigns, and stronger enforcement to encourage voluntary compliance. They believe technology-driven approval processes can reduce delays, minimise corruption, and make regulatory compliance more accessible for developers and homeowners.

Stakeholders maintain that strengthening planning permit compliance is critical to protecting lives and property, improving infrastructure delivery, and supporting sustainable housing and real estate development across Nigeria’s rapidly growing cities.

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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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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.

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