The National President of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, Olutoyin Ayinde, has urged the Federal Government to give adequate support to town planners to tackle the menace of improper planning, considering the country’s fast-growing population.

Ayinde made this known in Abuja during a one-week-long ceremony which encompassed the investiture of 51 members, including seven women.

He said, “Lack of proper planning has become a major cause of some challenges in our urban cities, ranging from climate change to flooding, among other natural disasters, that are facing the country now.

“The only resource Nigeria has is land. In 1971 Nigeria’s population was 56 million, but now we are more than 200 million on the same land over 50 years later. This poor planning contributes to some of the crisis of farmers-headers clash, communal boundary clashes and many more which the government needs to take proper action urgently.”

He also urged the newly inducted fellows to be honest, humble and embrace what would bring national development.

“I urge you to be the case study of the society. Do not compromise your profession to destroy your nation,” he said.

The Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement to the FCT Minister, Attah Ikharo, said the FCT Administration aimed to restore the city’s master plan, with the help of NITP.

He said, “Our aim is to restore FCT’s master plan. This city didn’t evolve on its own. People sat down in Lagos to plan it as a new city from scratch. Hence, it will be wrong to neglect or destroy the planning, efforts and money put into planning the FCT by the founding fathers.

“However, some of the plans have been distorted today. And we need the support of the NITP to eradicate the distortions and restore Abuja to its master plan.”

The chairperson, NITP, Abuja, Mustapha Mudiwu, urged the inducted fellows to avoid any act that would tarnish the reputation of their profession.

The vice chairperson, NITP, Abuja, Lami Ayuba, said the institution existed to advance the science of town planning, of which women should play an active role.

She said, “NITP exists to advance the science of planning for the interest of the country, and women are expected to play a leading role in this, and not be back benchers. There’s no discrimination against women here.”

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