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 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.

The post Planners Are Prophets of Development – UNILAG Don Warns Ogun Against Uncoordinated Growth appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

The Ondo State Government has unveiled new measures to modernise urban planning and ensure sustainable development across its towns and cities.

In a renewed drive to reshape its cities and towns, the Ondo State Government has entered into a stronger alliance with professional town planners to deliver sustainable urban growth, modern infrastructure, and orderly development across the state.

Olajide disclosed that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s administration has begun work on a comprehensive master plan for Akure and other key towns. He explained that the state has also launched the digitalisation of building permit approvals, designed to speed up applications, improve transparency, and support urban renewal.

He assured town planners that the government would continue to collaborate on capacity building, enforcement of planning regulations, and protecting lands reserved for future projects.

Speaking at the meeting, NITP State Chairman, Professor Ayo Olajuyigbe, represented by TPL Akin Ogundipe, urged the state to release funds quickly for the Akure master plan. He further suggested an amnesty programme for property owners without building approvals, allowing them to regularise documents without penalties—a move he said could increase the state’s internally generated revenue.

Olajuyigbe pledged the Institute’s commitment to decentralised planning, protection of public lands, and stronger community involvement in shaping urban development.

Also speaking, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Chief Oluwagbenga Akingbasote, said the government would continue to rely on planners for technical expertise and project consultancy. He called on the NITP to support the newly inaugurated Strategic Committee for EU Deforestation-Free Regulation Compliance, which seeks to align Ondo’s cocoa sector with international sustainability standards.

The post Collaboration for Progress: Ondo, Town Planners Push Sustainable Development appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

The institute made its position known through it’s president, Nathaniel Atebije who reiterated the importance of adhering to sustainable development goals, warning of the dangers of living in environments lacking basic amenities.

Addressing the press in Abuja, Atebije asserted “In terms of sustainability of our human settlements and communities, we seem to have lost a grip of the Sustainable Development Goals.

“Being faced with rapid urbanization in major urban centers, which are characterized by overstretched and inadequate infrastructure, weak institutional capacity to tackle environmental challenges of housing shortage and proliferation of slums or informal settlements, economic glitches, as well as land administration problems, Nigerians have been compelled to live below acceptable standards of livability and sustainability. The pains here cannot be hidden; they are massively dotted all over the place,” he said.

Speaking on the way forward, Atebije urged the government to partner with urban and regional planners to create and implement development plans that serve the needs of all citizens.

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“As an institute, we recognize the dictum of “No pain, no gain”, and it is in light of this statement that we believe in patience and forbearance that will lead to meaningful progress, which will come gradually.

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“Consequently, we call, once again on the Federal Government, all State Governments and the Federal Capital Territory Administration to faithfully commit to preparation and implementation of physical development plans from the highest order to the lowest order to make implementation possible and meaningful.

“Physical planning is not done in the head of any chief executive, it is done by qualified urban and regional planners who are available to contribute to the development of our dear nation.”

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