Ebonyi State chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), yesterday, called on the state government to revive town planning authorities, which was approved by the former governor, David Umahi.
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The chapter advised the state government to partner town planning professionals on the best way to achieve objectives of the state government in developing a well-designed, aesthetic and liveable environment for residents.
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Chairman of Ebonyi NITP, Uchenna Nwafor, made the call when members visited the Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Dr. Matthew Nwobasi, in his office. He expressed belief that the move would ensure a balanced development of the state at both urban and rural areas to stem the tide of migration to the cities, as well as activate physical planning machinery laws and regulations across the state.
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Nwafor told the Commissioner that the institute came to familiarise with the ministry and discuss ways to revive town planning authorities in the state.
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Contributing, another member, Joseph Igweogu told the Commissioner that in a normal situation, the ministry should stand on a tripod of departments namely; lands, survey and town planning. He expressed concerns that town planning in the ministry of lands is not properly constituted, adding that there are no town planning authorities in the 13 local councils of the state.
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He disclosed that, before now, there were 16 town planners in the ministry, lamenting that the figure has been reduced to three. Igweogu cautioned that if something serious is not done, the profession might be going into extinction soon. He further appealed to the state government to employ more town planners, who must be actively involved in town-planning decisions.
