Chinedum Elekwachi
Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) has blamed cases of building collapse on the failure to implement the 1992 Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Law.
National President, Dr Ogbonna Chime disclosed this in Awka, Anambra state during a town hall and training on leadership roles in Urban Planning Profession and its Administration.
He said the components of the law, drafted by Nigerians were enough guarantee against factors to building collapse or other forms of mishaps in the building environment.
According to Chime, for the country to move forward without records of building collapse, there was need for the implementation of the law.
He also dismissed as false allegations of members’ collaboration with property owners on use of substandard materials.
Chime insisted that no trained and professional town planner would be involved in such unethical conducts.
He said, “In 1992, Nigerians government in its wisdom, crafted what we call 1992 Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Law.
“This law was drafted by our people for our people as against that of 1946 made by the colonial masters whose interest was selfish.
1992 law adequate
Chime noted that the 1992 law drafted by the Nigerian government corrected the provisions of the colonial law that were impeding functional town planning activities.
“Under this law, the Chairman of the Town Planning Authority at the local level and the Executive Secretary are all town planners.
“Professionals in the building sector are also employed on part time basis to work with the team.
“These professionals are not only proactive, but ready to die for the truth.
He contended that if the implementation of the law has started, especially in parts of the country devoid of swamps, nobody will be talking about building collapse.
“Under the same law, you have a Town Planner in the board at the state level, an Architect, land and quantity surveyors, estate manager and civil engineer.
He maintained that effective implementation of the law and collection of professionals in the building environment will put an end to incidents of building collapse.
NITP President recalled that the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development inaugurated a task force to oversea efforts to stop building collapse.
He emphasized the importance of the training which included educating members on the expectations for effective functioning.
The NITP boss expressed confidence that the engagement would further address challenges in the profession.
“Just like any other professions, you do have misunderstanding among members.
“We discovered that this misunderstanding arises from lack of knowledge of how the institute operates.
Leadership training
“As a result, we decided to be organizing leadership training for all our members across the three zones – Eastern, Northern and Western.
Chime said the training will educate members, especially younger ones on how to function as an officer as well as upgrade their knowledge on content, value and provisions of the body’s constitution.
“Since we started this training, we’ve discovered that the level of crisis at the state level is reducing and we’re happy.
According to him, professionals from different areas of planning and other related issues have been selected to do justice to various assigned topics.”
Anambra State Chairman of the Institute, Dr Nwofor Ben, said the stakeholders meeting was opportunity for players in the field of physical planning to interact and iron out grey areas of the profession for the benefit of the general public.
