July 3, 2017
By Ijendu Iheaka
A Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, ( NITP) Chief Steve Onu has called for the amendment of the Nigerian constitution to move Urban and Regional planning issues to the concurrent list to improve their practice.
He said that only such amendment would solve key problems of town planners by curtailing federal government's role in Urban and Regional Planning policy formulation in Nigeria.
Onu said this while delivering a lecture at the investiture of Elder Nelson Nwosu as the 9th Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, Abia state chapter and inauguration of the executive officers in Aba.
Onu further said that the change should establish Urban Planning and Community Development Department at local levels to remove autonomous planning authorities not funded by states or local governments.
He also advised state governments to establish Metropolitan Planning Boards to address infrastructure planning and execution issues in the cities.
Onu said that the amendment would ensure achievement of good urban governance according to UN Habitat principles which include sustainable development, security, social equity, transparency, accountability, citizenship, subsidiarity and civic engagement.
In his acceptance speech, the Chairman Abia state chapter of NITP, Elder Nelson Nwosu said that having accepted to serve the institute as its chairman, he had resolved to give his best to their service.
He said that the institute and its work had come to stay in Abia state and promised to engage stakeholders and members to change poor public perception of the profession.
He said that he would be working with the new executive members to ensure that professional members understand their duties and serve the public well.
He also promised to pursue public enlightenment on the profession and to ensure that work began at the permanent of the institute soonest.
Nwosu said that although the task ahead was enormous, it is surmountable and called for the support and cooperation of members and other stakeholders to enable him take the chapter to greater heights.
Earlier, the out gone chairman, Mr Chibueze Nwaogwugwu said that from a membership of 10 persons at its inauguration in 1994, the chapter had grown to have over 108 members.
He said that the chapter had also been active in contributing to the development of the profession in Nigeria having produced a national president, a first national vice president and other national officers.
He urged members to be good followers and support the leadership adding that from such humble beginnings of being a follower, good and great leaders emerge with honour.
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