The federal government is set to begin land reforms with a National Urban Forum, bringing together stakeholders from government, the private sector, civil society, and communities to collaborate on urban development, it has emerged.
The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, who disclosed this in Abuja, stressed the need for efficient and equitable land allocation, calling it essential for sustainable urban development.
Speaking at the maiden Town Planners Assembly in Abuja, Dangiwa highlighted the urgency of addressing Nigeria’s rapid population growth and urbanization, noting the increasing demand for housing and infrastructure, emphasizing the need for innovative and collaborative approaches to town planning.
While he identified unplanned urbanization, inadequate infrastructure, environmental degradation, and informal settlements as major challenges requiring multi-stakeholder collaboration, the Minister revealed that plans are underway to streamline land administration, reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks, and promote transparency in land transactions.
Represented by Lana Olalekan, the Director and Head of the Department of Urban and Regional Development at the Ministry, Dangiwa, however, stressed that no single institution can tackle these issues alone, calling for stronger partnerships among town planners, government agencies, the private sector, and communities.
He emphasised that the Ministry is committed to create an enabling environment for such collaboration through regulatory reforms, capacity building, and the adoption of modern planning technologies.
To address the housing gaps, he noted that the government launched initiatives such as the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme, aimed at providing affordable housing while ensuring resilient urban spaces.
Furthermore, he said the National Urban Renewal and Slum Upgrade Programme seeks to transform informal settlements into well-planned communities with essential infrastructure.
Additionally, according to him, the Ministry, in partnership with UN-Habitat, has developed a National Urban Development Policy, which will soon be presented to the Federal Executive Council for approval.
Emphasizing sustainability as a priority, Dangiwa highlighted the Ministry’s collaboration with IFC EDGE to integrate green building techniques into housing projects and reiterated his directive that all of the Ministry’s designs must incorporate sustainability principles, reinforcing a commitment to environmentally responsible urban planning.
He also acknowledged the longstanding partnership with UN-Habitat, which has provided technical expertise and capacity-building support since 2003.
The Minister urged town planners to enhance professional standards through continuous learning and certification while leveraging advanced technologies like Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Building Information Modeling (BIM).
He emphasized public-private partnerships and community engagement in the planning process, asserting that inclusive and strategic actions will lay the foundation for sustainable cities.
On his part, the President of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Chime Ogbonna, raised concern over legislative gaps in urban planning including the failure to implement Nigeria’s Urban and Regional Planning Law, promulgated in 1992.
Despite its existence, the law remains largely unimplemented at the federal level, leaving town planning operations in a legal vacuum, he noted, adding that some States have adopted the law, but many others, including Federal agencies, still operate outside its provisions, hindering proper urban planning and development.
He noted that the absence of key institutions mandated by the law, such as the National Urban and Regional Planning Commission and the Urban and Regional Planning Appeal Board, was also highlighted.
The NITP President, however, urged the government to act swiftly to implement the legislation, warning that continued inaction could render planning efforts ineffective and hamper sustainable development.
Kabir Mohammed Kyari, a former NITP President and Chairman of the Summit’s Organizing Committee, stressed that housing remains a significant challenge in Nigeria.
He pointed out that Nigeria’s population has surged from 45 million at independence to over 200 million today, creating an ever-growing demand for housing.
The rapid formation of new households, particularly among young people, according to him, has exacerbated the housing crisis, while formal housing production has failed to keep pace.
While advocating for a collaborative approach, arguing that no government can meet all housing needs alone, Kyari called for integrating traditional incremental housing development with structured policies to bridge the housing deficit.
Addressing the crisis requires a mix of government intervention, private sector participation, and community-driven solutions, Kabir Uthman Hassan, Director General of Gombe Geographic Information Systems (Gombe GIS), highlighted the role of technology in improving urban planning.
He noted that GIS has been instrumental in identifying land-use violations, revealing widespread illegal conversions of designated commercial and recreational areas into residential spaces.
By leveraging GIS, he posited that authorities can track distortions and restore land to its intended use, ensuring structured urban development.
