The Town Planning Consultants of Nigeria (ATOPCON) has urged Southeast state governments to prioritise physical development plan and harness its potential to develop the region.

They expressed worries over haphazard development and poor implementation of government projects, which have plunged the area and the country at large into decay.

The association made the call at its yearly professional development workshop entitled, “Roles of physical planning in national politics,” held in Enugu. The experts advocated the implementation of physical planning in national politics, arguing that physical planning is essential in national discourse for achieving good urban governance.

Leading the charge, ATOPCON president, Mr. Muyiwa Adelu, lamented that the political class, traditional institutions and communities, which are the direct beneficiaries of the profession, have unfairly treated physical planning. This, he said, is due to ignorance, which must be corrected by private sector operators, who equally have many things at stake.

He said: “Like in Lagos, I look forward to when physical planning will be in the forefront of useful tools to be harnessed by Eastern states to be championed by Enugu State and when physical planning will not just be a department but a full-fledged ministry in the state.

“I look forward to when physical planning will be leveraged to direct all developments through preparation of various development plans. I look forward to when town planning consultants in Enugu State will be the main consultants to various developmental projects in the state, when the state will call on town planners both in private and public sectors to dialogue and assist the state to boost its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR); boost lofty projects; proffer solutions to myriads urban problems in Enugu metropolis and other towns in the state.”Adelu said the association was ready to collaborate with the states in the region in achieving its urban planning goals.

The association argued that the neglect of the relevance of planning consultants in political discourse is positively correlated with negative externalities, which is not limited to insecurity, disease outbreak, unemployment and utilisation of scarce resources, wasteful spending, poor housing, inadequate transport facilities and decline in local economy development.

Resolving the issue of negligence of physical planning, the association advised members to develop character, competence and capacity (3Cs) in the pursuit of advocacy, sensitise political class on the needs of the people for efficient and sustainable project delivery and become accustomed with procurement process.

He added: “We also need to sit with our lawmakers and stakeholders to package acceptable laws. Domesticate the urban and regional planning laws in state. It might not be clear how our physical planning nosedives, but we can get out of the doldrums by being committed to our calls as town planners; by not compromising planning standards; by not subjecting ourselves to corruption of any form; by not allowing political leaders dictate, override professional beliefs and ethics.”

Also speaking at the forum, the President, Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Olutoyin Ayinde, said visionary leadership is required to have well-ordered and sustainable human settlements and communities in the country.

He said physical development plans answer to vision and mission statements established by leadership, representatives of government, adding that the government possesses power of eminent domain and earns the responsibility to plan for the areas which it governs.

The President, Town Planners Registration Council of Nigeria (TOPREC), Isyaku Kura, noted that national politics and physical planning are interrelated, involve decision making by either individual, professionals or governments. “It should be inclusive, integrated, sustainable and participatory.”

He disclosed that the forum provides opportunity to address problems associated with negative political influence on physical planning practice that might not be limited to poor planning and decision-making, poor implementation of projects, loss of resources, biasness in planning practice and unnecessary prolonged planning process.

The chairman, ATOPCON, Enugu branch, Dr. Lucy Ugwu, said physical plan is crucial in national economic growth and development.
Ugwu said physical plan functions in national politics ensures judicious appropriation of funds to compatible land uses and the provision of infrastructure, facilities and amenities; ensures conducive environment free of pollution, ensures effective allocation and management of land for meaningful development.