By Philemon Amos

Nathaniel Atebije, the National President of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, has called upon the Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government to establish a dedicated Ministry of Physical Planning.According to Nathaniel Atebije, the establishment of a dedicated Ministry of Physical Planning would enhance the environmental quality, which he argues is currently comparable to a jungle where achieving prosperity is elusive due to insufficient attention given to national physical planning.Nathaniel Atebije made this appeal during his quarterly press conference held in Abuja on Monday. He also emphasized the importance of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party government fulfilling its campaign pledge by ensuring complete adherence to town planning, environmental laws, and regulations.During his address, Atebije expressed concern over the environmental destruction caused by ocean surges, attributing it to inadequate physical planning measures. Additionally, he raised a red flag regarding the potential national security risks associated with hiring foreign experts to manage the country’s Geographical Information System (GIS).Atebije emphasized the need for the APC-led Federal Government to establish institutions that would effectively enforce the Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Law, which was enacted approximately 30 years ago. He specifically recommended the establishment of the National Physical Planning Commission as an entity responsible for developing a comprehensive national physical plan.Atebije further called upon the federal government to restructure its agencies and consolidate them under a single Ministry of Physical Planning, rather than having physical planning as an adjunct to other ministries. This consolidation would streamline and enhance the effectiveness of physical planning efforts across the country.Atebije acknowledged that the new administration has shown promising early signs, expressing optimism for effective and purposeful leadership. The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) eagerly anticipates the government’s commitment to robust and goal-oriented leadership in addressing the challenges and opportunities related to urban and regional planning.Atebije expressed his hopeful and appreciative sentiments regarding the president’s inaugural address. He acknowledged the president’s focus on various critical areas such as security, economy, job creation, agriculture, infrastructure, monetary policy, and foreign policy. However, he stressed the importance of proper planning to ensure the realization of these goals, as past aspirations have remained unfulfilled due to a lack of planning.

Atebije emphasized that all these activities require land, and without a well-defined plan for project locations, the full potential of investments may not be realized. He highlighted the fact that land is a limited resource, and the demands placed on it are continuously expanding. To ensure optimal project placement and timing, he emphasized the necessity of engaging town planners as consultants to effectively plan and manage settlements.