The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) has issued a strong appeal to authorities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to strengthen the implementation of the Abuja Master Plan and initiate a comprehensive review of the decades-old document.
Call for Action to Prevent Urban Chaos
Dr Chime Ogbonna, the President of NITP, made this critical call during a leadership meeting with officials from the FCT's development control department in Abuja. He warned that failure to uphold the sanctity of the master plan would inevitably lead to disorder and disharmony in the nation's capital.
"There will be disorder when there is no roadmap guiding development," Ogbonna stated emphatically. He described the Abuja Master Plan as the primary instrument for ensuring coordinated growth, asserting that its procedures must be diligently followed to realize the vision of Abuja as a global jewel.
Why a 1979 Plan Needs a Modern Update
The NITP President highlighted the urgent need for a full-scale review of the master plan, which was originally prepared in 1979. He argued that the document's key provisions have been overtaken by profound changes over the past decades.
Significant land-use changes, rapid urbanization across the FCT's regional areas, massive population growth, and new global approaches to city development were all cited as factors necessitating an updated planning framework. Ogbonna appealed directly to the FCT Minister, known for championing flagship infrastructure projects, to also prioritize this crucial review to provide robust guidance for the capital's future.
He further emphasized that plan implementation is a serious business, noting that without proper execution, even the most well-crafted plans risk being compromised or outright abused.
FCT Officials Pledge Commitment to Order and Green Vision
In response, the Acting Director of the FCT Department of Development Control, Dr Bashir Sanusi, commended the NITP for its advocacy. He pledged his department's commitment to safeguarding the master plan's integrity.
Sanusi promised to promote participatory processes that place citizens at the heart of urban planning. "Cities are for people, and we will ensure that stakeholders play critical roles in shaping Abuja," he said. His department is committed to ridding the city of illegal developments, ensuring orderliness, and realizing the vision of a functional, globally admired capital.
Adding his voice, the Acting Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation, Joseph Dhis, underscored the importance of Abuja's original vision as a green, eco-friendly "Garden City of Africa." He pointed out that the master plan allocates a substantial 30 per cent of the city's land use to green development.
"Green areas have been conceived as foundational elements of the city's development. They remain essential not only for aesthetics but also for environmental sustainability," Dhis concluded, reinforcing the need to protect these spaces as the city evolves.
