The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) has, over the years, played an important role in shaping urban development and planning in Nigeria. However, the institute says a major challenge confronting the country’s urban development is the failure of many state governments to domesticate and implement the 1992 Urban and Regional Planning Law.
The NITP has existed for more than six decades and has consistently advocated for proper planning before physical development takes place. According to the institute, every settlement should be properly planned and approved before development begins. This approach distinguishes the institute’s philosophy from the colonial pattern of urban development, which largely focused on planning and developing Government Reserved Areas (GRAs), many of which were occupied by colonial officials.
The institute explained that while it supports comprehensive planning, the current approach of ensuring that planning comes before development is gradually becoming more accepted in the creation and expansion of new cities across Nigeria. The emphasis is that development should not be allowed to take place first before authorities begin thinking about how to manage its consequences.
The position of the NITP becomes particularly important against the backdrop of Nigeria’s rapidly growing urban population and increasing housing shortage. Through its members working in both the public and private sectors, the institute contributes to ensuring that proposed development plans are properly considered and approved by the relevant government authorities.
The institute stressed that approval alone is not enough. Once a development plan has been approved, it must also be implemented according to the provisions contained in the plan. Failure to follow approved plans can result in settlements gradually developing into slums, making them difficult to live in and unsustainable in the long term.
The NITP clarified that, as a professional organisation, its primary responsibility is to advise government on appropriate planning policies and how those policies should be implemented. It is not the responsibility of the institute to personally execute development plans prepared by town planners who are its members.
The institute also pointed out that governments at the federal, state and local levels often fail to recognise the importance of planning ahead of development. Instead, planning is sometimes introduced only after damage has already occurred. The NITP argued that development should be preceded by proper planning rather than waiting until problems emerge before authorities attempt to address them.
Because the institute does not control government budgets, it can only provide professional advice to those responsible for decision-making and implementation. One important aspect of urban and regional planning is development control, which ensures that actual physical development complies with the provisions of approved master plans and other planning documents.
Despite these efforts, the town planning profession in Nigeria continues to face several challenges. One of the most significant is the refusal or failure of governments to fully implement the law that they are expected to enforce.
The Federal Government enacted the Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Law in 1992. The legislation was described as the country’s first indigenous town planning law and replaced previous town planning legislation. However, despite the importance of the law, the government has still not fully implemented its provisions more than three decades after its enactment.
According to the institute, this failure has created considerable confusion within the planning system and contributed to the crisis affecting urban development in Nigeria. Where there is no effective implementation of the law, the proper functioning of the town planning profession becomes difficult.
The consequences are also visible in government employment structures. The absence of effective implementation means that town planners may not be adequately employed across federal, state and local government institutions where their expertise is needed.
The institute linked some of the problems Nigerians experience daily to weaknesses in urban planning and development control. These problems include flooding, inappropriate land use, traffic congestion, the growth of slums, poor drainage systems and development activities that fail to comply with existing planning regulations.
The situation becomes particularly serious during the rainy season, when poorly planned developments and inadequate drainage systems can worsen flooding across urban centres. Political interference in land-use decisions is also identified as another challenge affecting proper physical planning.
Another difficulty facing the profession is inadequate funding. The institute noted that town planning departments and institutions often lack the necessary equipment, facilities and personnel required to effectively carry out their responsibilities.
There is also a shortage of properly equipped institutions capable of training the next generation of town planners. Many universities and polytechnics face challenges in providing the facilities and resources needed to produce professionals who can adequately respond to Nigeria’s rapidly changing urban environment.
The NITP therefore believes that the challenges are numerous, particularly because many states have yet to domesticate and effectively implement the 1992 Urban and Regional Planning Law. The institute has continued to put pressure on governments to take planning issues more seriously.
Over the years, the institute has used several approaches to draw attention to the problem. These include courtesy visits to government officials, national conferences and other professional engagements where the urgent need for proper urban and regional planning is discussed.
The institute maintained that town planning should be recognised as an essential part of governance. According to the position expressed by the organisation, the earlier governments begin to treat planning as an integral part of administration and development, the better the outcome will be for Nigerian cities and communities.
The NITP further warned that problems such as flooding, uncontrolled traffic, proliferation of slums, hazardous development, poor drainage and disregard for planning regulations are all consequences of weak urban development control.
On how the institute is assisting governments at the federal and state levels, the organisation said it would continue to provide professional advice and engage authorities on appropriate ways of addressing the country’s planning challenges.
The institute also stressed that flooding and other urban problems would continue to affect Nigerian communities if trained professionals are not given adequate opportunities to manage the physical environment. This is especially important in rapidly expanding urban areas where population growth is putting increasing pressure on land, housing, roads and other infrastructure.
The NITP said both its national body and state chapters have continued to engage government authorities and communicate the importance of proper planning through different channels, including the media.