Nigeria’s Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh, has urged the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) to lobby the National Assembly for constitutional amendments aimed at bolstering physical planning and regional development nationwide. According to a statement released by the NITP, the Minister made this call during a official meeting with the institute’s leadership in Abuja.
Momoh highlighted that constitutional reform is strictly a legislative responsibility and encouraged the institute to step up its engagements with lawmakers regarding its proposal to shift town planning from the residual legislative list to the concurrent list.
The NITP contended that the present constitutional structure constrains the federal government’s authority over land administration and physical planning, thereby hampering the execution of synchronized regional development projects.
In response to the institute’s demand for increased hiring of professional town planners, the Minister clarified that recruitment into the federal civil service remains the domain of the Federal Civil Service Commission.
Nevertheless, he instructed the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Mary Ada Ogbe, to record the need for more town planners and submit the request to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation for consideration in subsequent recruitment exercises.
Momoh also recommended that town planning consultants register with relevant federal authorities to boost their chances of securing consultancy contracts with the ministry.
Regarding the institute’s invitation for him to attend and support its 57th International Conference, the Minister indicated that political obligations might limit his availability, but he guaranteed that the Permanent Secretary would represent the ministry should he be unable to attend in person.
Furthermore, he counseled the institute to formally petition the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to enable the deployment of town planners across various ministries, departments, and agencies, instead of restricting their employment strictly to the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.
The Minister revealed that the Ministry of Regional Development has presented four strategic policy frameworks to the Federal Executive Council for endorsement, covering Spatial Equity and Territorial Balance, Regional Economic Transformation, Infrastructure Connectivity, and Social Equity and Human Capital.
He assured the delegation that qualified town planners will be central to implementing these policies once federal approval is secured.
Speaking earlier, NITP National President, Tpl. Dr. Ogbonna Chime, portrayed the institute as a crucial partner in delivering the ministry’s goals and advocated for deeper cooperation to foster sustainable regional growth.
Chime proposed establishing a dedicated town planning department inside the ministry, scaling up the recruitment of qualified town planners, and involving more town planning consultants in creating and executing regional development projects.
He likewise praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for founding the Ministry of Regional Development alongside six Regional Development Commissions, framing these moves as key milestones toward equitable national growth and the reduction of regional imbalances.
The NITP delegation additionally requested greater inclusion of professional town planners in ministry initiatives and sought federal financial backing for skill development through the sponsorship of planners attending the institute’s 57th International Conference.
Created in October 2024 through the reorganization of the former Ministry of Niger Delta Development, the Ministry of Regional Development is charged with coordinating policies, programs, and strategic measures designed to drive balanced, sustainable growth throughout Nigeria’s regions.