FG demands professionalism in urban planning, development

The Federal Government has urged members of the Town Planners Registration Council of Nigeria (TOPREC) not only to uphold the guidelines of the profession but also to tackle challenges faced in urban planning and development.

Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, who spoke at the inauguration of new council members in Abuja, explained that the new board would ensure professionalism and raise the sector to an enviable height by maintaining global standards.

The council has 12 members representing different states and more members are expected to be appointed from other states to position the profession.

Also, Permanent Secretary, Bashir Nura Alkali, observed that a well – disciplined and adequately regulated professionals would contribute to the quality of construction, infrastructure and national development.

Alkali said, under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, TOPREC has the mandate to regulate and control physical planning in all ramifications.

“The council mandate includes determining who are town planners, as well as impart knowledge and skills required for registration of anyone who desires to practice in consonance with the provision of Section 2(1) of the TOPREC Act 2004,” he said.

Alkali revealed that the minister approved the re-constitution of the new members in consonance with the provision of Section 2(1) of the TOPREC Act 2004.

On his part, TOPREC President, Isiaku Kura, urged the members to read and meditate on the Act that established the council, explaining that their call to service would involve sacrificing their time and resources.

Kura who conveyed the council’s gratitude to the minister for the periodic subvention given to it, also informed him that the council had been able to build a secretariat at Jahi district in Abuja.

Those inaugurated are Dr. Simon Kanobi -Osoww Ajom, Cross River State; Danbaba Umar Idris, Niger state; Liman Gana, Borno State; Ogunlewe Adebisi Adesoga, Lagos State and Aniekan Ubong Akpan Cross River; Davies Tonte Joseph, Rivers State; Aliyu Abubakar Mohammad, Jigawa State and Ogbugo Victor Filzgerald, Delta State.