The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) has expressed concern over the neglect of campus master plans across the nation’s tertiary institutions, warning that the absence of such vital physical development blueprints is undermining orderly growth and efficient land use within campuses.
NITP President, Dr Ogbonna Chime, who spoke during the inauguration of the Presidential Committee on the National Assembly, lamented that the lack of adherence to campus master plans has continued to create confusion, particularly in the appointment and operations of directors of physical planning in higher institutions.
He urged governments at all levels to prioritise the preparation and implementation of physical development plans, including campus master plans, to ensure that infrastructure in educational institutions evolves in line with environmental sustainability and academic expansion goals.
Chime further called for the full implementation of the 1992 Urban and Regional Planning Act, which, he said, remains critical to achieving sustainable urban development and mitigating the environmental degradation currently witnessed across the country.
He explained that the Act provides for the establishment of a National Urban and Regional Planning Commission that would coordinate professionals such as town planners, engineers, architects, estate surveyors, builders, and water resources experts in the management of Nigeria’s physical environment.
According to him, proper implementation of the law would help address recurrent flooding and other environmental challenges, which have become annual occurrences across many states.
“Every year, we talk about flooding. We need to implement the law to ensure some of these issues are resolved. The National Urban and Regional Planning Commission, as provided for in the Act, will bring together key professionals such as planners, engineers, architects, land surveyors, estate surveyors, and builders to manage development in an integrated way,” he said.
Chime revealed that the review process initiated by the last administration stalled after the first reading in the House of Representatives. He, however, commended the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development for adopting a new National Urban Development Policy, noting that it aligns with the institute’s long-standing advocacy for planned growth.
“We felt it would be better to go straight to implement the law as promulgated by the Federal Government. Then, during implementation, if flaws are discovered, that would be the appropriate time to call for a review,” he added.
The NITP president emphasised that town planners are professionally equipped to address environmental problems such as flooding.
“Many major rivers have their sources in places like Enugu, Kaduna, and Kogi. When professionals are entrusted with managing the environment, issues like flooding will become a thing of the past. A national drainage plan can then guide dam and drainage construction, while professionals advise the government on appropriate interventions,” he said.
Chime also cautioned state governments against conflating Geographic Information Systems (GIS) with urban and regional planning or land administration. He clarified that GIS is only a tool to support planning decisions and not an end in itself.
“GIS is just a component of land management, a means to an end. Effective land use planning requires human expertise, policy coherence, and institutional coordination,” he said.
