Institute seeks amendment of town planning laws, says practitioners abusing loopholes

The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) has asked the national assembly to amend the urban and regional planning Act to reflect current realities. 

Nathaniel Atebije, president of the institute, spoke on Wednesday when he led some members of the association to visit Awaji-inombek Abiante, chairman of the house of representatives committee on urban development and regional planning at the national assembly.

Atebije said the law needs to be amended because it does “not have sufficient provisions for effective enforcement”.

He added that the amendment would make the law “more contemporary, particularly with the possibility of putting physical planning matters on the concurrent list in the constitution”.

Atebije also called for the establishment of a national urban and regional planning commission.

He said the commission will “provide and implement national and regional development plans with a view to harmonising and efficiently harness resources of each geo-political zone and a national development framework”.

“Amend the law that established the Town Planners Registration Council of Nigeria with a view to addressing the lacuna which some members of the council are taking undue and dangerous advantage of to abuse the spirit and purpose of the law,” he said.

“Update and formalise the adoption of the Nigerian building code for effective implementation.”

Atebije said the parliament should “make sufficient budgetary provisions for urgent and rigorous capacity building for town planners already in the establishment of public service to aid the performance of their jobs”.

While responding, Abiante said the committee will propose amendments to the act for effective urban development across the country.

The lawmaker said the committee is ready to partner with the institute to improve urban planning in the country.