‘FCT is less than 25 per cent developed’

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Mustapha Mubdiyu, said the territory is less than 25 percent developed in terms of infrastructure and service delivery.

Mubdiyu, who spoke at the 2020 Planners Day on the theme ‘Urban Governance and Service Delivery in Nigeria’, said the gap is so wide that it needs commitment and innovation on the part of government to close.

“There is gap in the supply of infrastructure in our cities and towns and we feel the discussion has been left untouched for a long time.

“Whatever we have to do, start with planning supported with funds. It’s one thing to plan but a different thing to see that those plans are funded. Just like one of the speakers said, the FCT is less than 25 per cent developed despite the fact that it is over 40 years old.

“So the gap is so wide that it needs serious and different approaches to achieve the desired result of getting the infrastructure and service delivery deserving of the FCT’’, he said.

He said the priority of the new exco would be the development of the Town Planners Registration Council (TOPREC) secretariat.

The 1st National Vice Chairman of NITP, Nathaniel Atabije, who also spoke, said government could address the funding challenge through prudent management of resources and mass participation.