Planners seek development guides for settlements

Following the flooding in some parts of the country, the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) has called on government at all levels to prepare development guides for settlements in order to prevent future occurence and achieve sustainable cities.

The institute after its emergency management meeting over the recent flooding issues in some states of the federation also urged government to implement the Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Law.

In a statement signed by the National Public Relations Secretary, Ashiru Olugbenga Oladimeji, the National President Luka Achi sympathized with the government and the people of the affected states, especially Ogun, Ondo and Katsina that have recorded loss of over 50 lives and properties worth millions of naira.

The Institute further called on Nigerians that reside along water and coastal ways to take urgent action by relocating to safer areas.

Having studied the Nigerian Metrological Agency (NIMET) report, which warned that many parts of the country are likely to be affected by flooding in year 2018 due to a shift in the rainfall pattern caused by climate change and the Nigerian Hydrological Service Agency (NIHSA) 2018 annual report outlook which announced that 380 Local Government Areas in 35 states will experience flooding this year, the institute charged government on the increase in urbanization and industrialization and called for the control and prevent environmental hazards like flooding, air and water pollution.