Rivers To Partner NITP On Urban Dev

In its efforts to maintain the
physical plan of the state, the Rivers State Government says it is ready to partner with insitutions in the country towards urban development and renewal projects in Port Harcourt and other cities in the state.
The Commissioner for Urban Development and Physical Planning, Hon Chinyere Igwe who gave the assurance recently when members of the Nigeria Institute of Town Planners Rivers State chapter (NITP)paid a solidarity visit to him, attributed the haphazard and uncontrolled development in Port Harcourt city and its environs to the neglect in professionalism of the town planners.
Hon. Igwe regretted that the professionals had deviated from their field and resorted to public service instead of upholding their principle and tenent in  the area of proper development of the state.
He therefore, urged members of the institute to employ disciplinary measures against members who had erred in the course of rendering their servites to state government and the public at large.
The Commissioner however, reiterated the ministry’s determination to embark on advocacy campaigns and correct the misconception borne by stakeholders  for regarding the Ministry of  Urban Development as demolition ministry.
According to him, “there is need for the ministry to have planned, developed and regularized standard of best practices in the development plan with international standard”.
Earlier, the Chairman of NITP, Mr. Otonte Davies said that they were in his office to propose a public-private partnership with the ministry as well as the establishment of local planning authorities in Rives State that would properly position the  State in sector/market development plan.
He congratulated him on, and expresed appreciation to the Governor for his appointment as Commissioner, and God for Governor Nyesom Wike’s victory at the Supreme Court well as  pledged their unflinching support to the present administration .

Ike Wigodo/Oluchi Nnasugwu