The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) is intensifying efforts to implement the Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning (URP) Law, aiming to integrate structured planning into national development.
At a recent event in Abuja, NITP National President, Tpl. Chime Ogbonna, inaugurated a committee to organize a colloquium focused on the domestication and implementation of the 1992 URP Law (CAP 138, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004). This initiative seeks to engage stakeholders across various sectors, including legislators, state governors, local government chairpersons, community-based organizations, NGOs, legal experts, and professional bodies, to foster a collaborative approach to urban and regional planning.
Despite the URP Law’s provisions for establishing planning institutions at federal, state, and local levels, many of these bodies remain unestablished. The absence of entities such as the National Urban and Regional Planning Commission and corresponding tribunals hampers effective planning and development control. Ogbonna emphasized the necessity of operationalizing these institutions to provide a legal framework that supports sustainable development.
To bolster its advocacy, NITP is strengthening partnerships with organizations like the Abuja International Housing Show (AIHS). A recent meeting between Ogbonna and AIHS founder, Festus Adebayo, aimed to align efforts in promoting planning discourse and public awareness. The upcoming colloquium is expected to serve as a platform for stakeholders to deliberate on the practical steps needed to implement the URP Law effectively.
NITP’s renewed push underscores the critical role of urban and regional planning in national development. By advocating for the full implementation of the URP Law, the institute aims to ensure that planning becomes an integral part of Nigeria’s growth strat,egy, addressing challenges such as unregulated urbanization and infrastructure deficits.
