The President of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Tpl. Chime A. Ogbonna, FNITP, has called for a broader implementation of the Federal Character Principle to ensure equitable distribution of infrastructure, public utilities and development opportunities across Nigeria.
Ogbonna made the call in a goodwill message delivered on the occasion of the Federal Character Commission’s workshop on the implementation of the Federal Character Principle.
He commended the leadership of the Federal Character Commission (FCC) for organising the workshop, describing it as an important platform for examining a principle he said was fundamental to national unity, cohesion and balanced development.
According to the NITP President, the Federal Character Principle should not be restricted to issues of appointments and recruitment into federal institutions, but should also address disparities in the distribution of infrastructure, public services and economic opportunities across the country.
He said equitable development should cover access to potable water, electricity, education, healthcare, road networks, economic centres and other essential public facilities across Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Areas.
“The Federal Character Principle, at its very core, embodies a profound spatial, social and developmental mandate that extends far beyond conventional interpretations,” Ogbonna said.
He stressed that sustainable nation-building required stronger local governance structures, equitable representation and deliberate efforts to ensure that development reached communities across the country.
The NITP President warned that Nigeria could not achieve sustainable national growth and prosperity while significant spatial disparities persisted between communities and regions.
According to him, some communities continue to enjoy relatively better access to infrastructure and public services, while others struggle with inadequate basic amenities.
He argued that an inclusive governance framework must guarantee Nigerians, irrespective of their geographical location, ethnic background or socioeconomic status, fair access to essential public utilities and services.
Ogbonna said town planners had an important role to play in translating the principles of equity and inclusion into practical development outcomes.
“As dedicated spatial planners, the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners profoundly recognises that the pursuit and achievement of spatial justice constitute the foundation upon which national stability, peace and progress are built,” he said.
He explained that urban and regional planning went beyond drawing maps or defining boundaries, noting that effective spatial planning directly influences the distribution of opportunities, infrastructure and public services and, consequently, the quality of life of citizens.
According to him, closer collaboration between spatial planners and the Federal Character Commission could create a framework for ensuring that the principle of equity is reflected in physical development across the country.
He particularly advocated the development of master plans for local governments as a tool for guiding balanced and equitable development.
“If every local government has a masterplan, the proper deployment of equitable planning will be appropriated,” he said.
Ogbonna reiterated the readiness of the NITP to collaborate with the Federal Character Commission and other relevant stakeholders to integrate spatial equity into national development policies.
He said such collaboration would help Nigeria move beyond representation to tangible development that could be seen and experienced by citizens in communities across the country.
“By integrating physical planning frameworks directly into the implementation of the Federal Character Principle, we can move from passive representation to active, visible development in every corner of Nigeria,” he said.
The NITP President wished the leadership of the Federal Character Commission and participants at the workshop a productive deliberation, expressing hope that the event would produce practical recommendations capable of advancing equitable development in Nigeria.