The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) has called on governments at all levels to enforce the Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Law of 1992, warning that poor implementation of the legislation is contributing to flooding, uncoordinated development and environmental degradation across the country.
The National President of the institute, Tpl. Dr Chime Ogbonna, made the call at a press conference in Lagos ahead of the NITP’s 57th International Conference and Annual General Meeting.
Ogbonna said effective physical planning was essential to environmental sustainability, economic growth and improved living conditions, stressing that development carried out without proper planning could expose communities to avoidable environmental risks.
He recalled that Nigeria’s 1946 Town and Country Planning Law preceded the enactment of the Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Law in 1992. However, he expressed concern that the 1992 legislation had not been effectively implemented, particularly at the federal level and across most states.
According to him, only Lagos State had made significant efforts to implement the law, while 35 other states were yet to fully implement its provisions.
“The law lays down the procedure for preparation of the plans that will make our environment liveable and our settlements sustainable,” he said.
The NITP president warned that failure to enforce planning regulations had contributed to flooding, destruction of property and the growth of poorly planned settlements. He urged governments to strengthen planning institutions and ensure that development projects comply with approved plans.
He also called on the Lagos State Government to replicate the planning measures adopted for Eko Atlantic City in other flood-prone parts of the state to address recurring flooding and protect lives and property.
Ogbonna further advocated mandatory master plans for universities, polytechnics and colleges of education before construction begins. He insisted that qualified town planners should prepare the plans for approval by the relevant state governments.
“Every new university, every new polytechnic and every new college of education in Nigeria must, ahead of time, prepare a master plan of the campus,” he said.
On regional development, he called for long-term planning strategies that would enable different parts of the country to develop according to their resources and economic strengths.
He warned that projects initiated without adequate professional planning often resulted in abandoned infrastructure and waste of public resources, urging governments to prioritise sustainable development plans over short-term political considerations.
The NITP president also advocated the decentralisation of port facilities from Lagos to other parts of the country, saying the move would ease traffic congestion, distribute economic activities and promote balanced regional development.
He stressed that community participation should be incorporated into the planning process from the outset to encourage public cooperation and ensure effective implementation.
Ogbonna urged governments to recognise physical planning as a critical foundation for sustainable settlements, economic growth and improved quality of life.