The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) has called for the full enforcement of the Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Law, warning that weak implementation of the legislation is contributing to unplanned urban growth, flooding, informal settlements and environmental degradation across the country.
The call was made as the institute marks its 60th anniversary, with its National President, Dr. Chime Ogbonna, stressing the need for stronger planning institutions and greater commitment from governments at all levels.
The Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Law, enacted in 1992 as Decree No. 88, provides the legal framework for physical and development planning in Nigeria and replaced the former Town and Country Planning Act.
However, town planners say the law has not been effectively implemented nationwide more than three decades after its enactment.
Ogbonna said rapid urbanisation, recurring flooding, the spread of informal settlements and environmental degradation were largely linked to physical developments carried out without adherence to approved master plans and professional planning standards.
He called on the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to lead a coordinated national effort to enforce the law, while urging states that have yet to domesticate the legislation to take immediate steps towards doing so.
According to him, effective physical planning is critical to ensuring that urban expansion is properly managed and that infrastructure and public services keep pace with population growth.
The NITP president also called for stronger planning institutions, adequate funding, modern technical equipment and the recruitment and continuous training of qualified town planners to improve development control across the country.
He further advocated measures to reduce political interference in land-use decisions and ensure that approved development plans are respected by government authorities, developers and property owners.
Ogbonna said the institute’s 60th anniversary provides an opportunity to renew its advocacy for stronger planning institutions and the development of safe, sustainable and liveable Nigerian cities.
The town planners’ position comes amid longstanding concerns over weak enforcement of planning regulations, which experts say has contributed to problems including flooding, traffic congestion, uncoordinated settlements and environmental degradation.
The NITP has therefore urged governments at the federal, state and local levels to work closely with professional town planners to ensure that urban development is guided by approved plans and appropriate regulations.
The institute reaffirmed its readiness to collaborate with government and other stakeholders towards achieving orderly urban growth and addressing the infrastructure and environmental challenges associated with Nigeria’s rapid urbanisation.