Town planners canvass for robust physical planning

The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) has called on the federal government to adopt robust physical planning measures in order to boost economic growth and development in Nigeria.

President of the Institute, Lekwa Olugu Ezutah, who made the call at his investiture as the 23rd national president of the Institute in Abuja over the weekend, said no form of growth in the Economic Growth and Recovery Plan(ERGP) can be sustained without adequate physical planning measures put in place.

“From experience, countries with robust physical planning programmes have grown faster and developed more sustainably, economically and socially. The most outstanding of such experience is Singapore” he said

Ezutah also made case for the implementation of the provisions of the Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning law as well as the establishment of a regional and planning commission.

The NITP President also charged the newly inaugurated executive members of the Institute to complement the federal government efforts in town planning and development.

Guest speaker at the event, Awa Kalu said the association have the responsibility of assisting the federal government in developing programmes that will actualize it’s environmental planning policies.

According to Kalu, the physical planning objectives of government at both federal and states levels can only be effective if there is collaboration between the Institute and the government.