Town Planners Applaud FG’s Approval of New Urban Development Policy

The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) has commended the Federal Government for approving the revised National Urban Development Policy (NUDP), describing it as a much-needed step in addressing Nigeria’s rapidly evolving urban challenges.

The updated policy, developed by the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development in collaboration with UN-Habitat and other stakeholders, replaces the 2012 edition. It introduces a 10-year framework for promoting sustainable urban planning, governance, and inclusive development nationwide.

Speaking in Abuja, NITP President Dr. Chime Ogbonna lauded the initiative as a “critical shift” toward giving urban development the priority it deserves within national planning efforts.

He further urged the federal government to operationalize the National Urban and Regional Planning Commission, as stipulated in the Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Law of 1992, which has remained unimplemented for over three decades.

“Nigeria is urbanising at a rapid rate. With over 70% of the population projected to live in cities by 2050, there is an urgent need for integrated and inclusive planning,” Dr. Ogbonna noted.

The revised NUDP aims to move away from fragmented and reactive planning to a more proactive and coordinated approach. It calls for metropolitan and regional planning bodies, decentralised governance, and improved federal-state-local collaboration.

The policy also focuses on social inclusion, advocating urban designs that accommodate vulnerable groups such as women, youth, persons with disabilities, and informal sector workers. It stresses the importance of climate resilience, encouraging cities to adopt climate-smart infrastructure and planning in response to flooding, desertification, and extreme weather.

The NITP pledged full support for the policy’s implementation, while emphasizing that political will, institutional capacity, and public participation are key to achieving its objectives.