Urban Planning, Panacea To Development – NITP

The President of Nigeria Institute of Town Planning (NITP), Mr Lekwa Ezutah, has said that urban planning is key to achieving state goals and aspirations.
Ezuatah made this declaration at a town hall meeting which held in Port Harcourt, recently.
The NITP President, who was represented by the Assistant National Secretary, NITP, Mr Austine Okanwo, noted that town planning was pivotal in city planning, saying that their job entails “ designing, arrangement and the creation of opportunity including area where people will live, work, play and carry out other day to day activities”.
He stated that the aim of the Town Hall meeting, which had the theme, “Poor Urban Planning, Problems, Challenges, Prospects, the roll of Communities and other Stakeholders,” was aimed at provoking activities and promoting urban planning as an important tool to achieve the components of the Sustainable Development Goals and also to address the challenges of climate change.
He also said the professional town planner helps in mediation and arbitration between statutory approval agencies and clients for plan approval application and appeals.
Ezutah stated further that the town planner also helps in the formulation of national, state and local government development policies and urban growth.
Also speaking, the Chairman, NITP, Rivers State chapter, Mr Tete Inameti, explained that the NITP would continue to educate the public on the functions of the town planner and why it is important to employ the services of a professional town planner to combat rural/urban drift.
On his part, the resource person, who is also a member of the institute, Mr Opribo Ikiriko, speaking on urban planning and how urbanisation has affected most communities, stated that urban planning was the translation of community needs and aspiration to the physical.

By: Tonye Nria-Dappa & Kpobari Barizaa