Covid-19: ‘We will approach urban planning with renewed vigour’

The Bauchi State Government is strengthening urban planning institutions to vigorously enforce social and physical distancing beyond  the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Commissioner of Lands and Survey in the state, Professor Adamu Ahmed, gave the assurance that  government is committed to taking proactive measures in dealing with public health issues and development planning in line with global best practices.

Ahmed said the policy reforms are to strengthen urban governance and land management, and would allow the state to more effectively plan and control development, including enforcement of physical distancing as provided by various town planning regulations.

Ahmed explained that the state recently signed a cooperation agreement with the UN-Habitat for technical assistance on urban governance reform, and is at the verge of assenting to two laws on land reform and urban planning and development control.

The commissioner said that modern planning has been shaped by public health issues and pandemics, adding that Covid-19 is yet another stark reminder of the implications of chaotic and informal urban growth but also of the enormous work required to keep our cities orderly and safe.

He noted that Bauchi State is already implementing an ambitious urban renewal program with the construction of two new bye-pass corridors to improve intra-urban mobility and to extend the reach of vital urban services, “The State is also commencing the review of the Bauchi Urban Masterplan.”