The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners has stepped up efforts to promote sustainable and orderly urban development with the inauguration of a Presidential Committee tasked with securing the full implementation of the 1992 Urban and Regional Planning Law.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony in Abuja, NITP National President, Dr. Ogbonna Chime, described the 33-year-old legislation as the country’s most comprehensive framework for addressing Nigeria’s persistent urban challenges. These include perennial flooding, unplanned settlements, and the rapid spread of slums.
Chime urged the Federal Government and the National Assembly to prioritise enforcement of the law, stressing that it was crucial not just for town planners but for the future of Nigerian cities.
“This law is not just about town planners; it is about the future of our cities,” he said. “Its implementation will establish a functional legal structure for planning administration at all levels of government, promote public participation in development decisions, and ensure major projects undergo environmental impact assessments. The result will be cleaner, safer, and more investment-friendly Nigerian cities.”
The committee will be chaired by Dr. Ramatu Aliyu, former Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, who pledged close collaboration with legislators to integrate the law into current governance frameworks.
The NITP also commended the Federal Government for creating the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and praised Minister Ahmed Dangiwa for ratifying the New Urban Development Policy. Chime further called for the establishment of the National Planning Commission, local planning authorities, and regeneration agencies to unlock the law’s full potential.
The 1992 Urban and Regional Planning Law provides for planning bodies at all tiers of government, mandates citizen participation, and sets environmental safeguards for developments.
Chime emphasised that this time, the law must move beyond paper into full enforcement to transform Nigeria’s urban landscape.
