The Nation Newspaper

Tag: PLANNING

  • CIBN seeks input in budget planning

    CIBN seeks input in budget planning

    President and Chairman- in- Council of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) Mrs. Debola Osibogun has urged the Oyo State government to allow members have an input in the state’s budgetary planning.

    Osibogun spoke when she visited Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

    She said doing so will allow the institute contribute its quota in budgetary planning and implementation.

    The CIBN boss urged the government to consider any dedicated member of the institute to serve the state through appointment into key offices.

    She said the institute will collaborate with the University of Wales and the Chartered Institute of Scotland for its Chartered Bankers Programme.

    Osibogun, who also visited the Institute’s state branch, praised Ajimobi for his administration’s urban renewal programme, infrastructural development and peace and security in the state.

    The governor said a lot still needed to be done by the institute to assist the state and country by providing technical assistance, especially during the nation’s economic challenges.

  • Yahaya Abdullahi wants new economic planning parameters

    As members of the National Assembly continue their debate on the general principles of the 2016 national budget, Senator (Dr.) Yahaya A. Abdullahi, has cautioned against the continued tying of the Nigerian economy to the country’s volatile oil industry.

    Senator Abdullahi, who represents Kebbi North  in Kebbi State, said this in a statement last Wednesday in Abuja, observing that a closer analysis of the fundamentals of the economy would  show that the petroleum industry is not as overly strategic to our national development as past governments made it to appear.

    In his words: ”That sector of our economy actually offers less employment to Nigerians and contributes between 14% and 15% to the nation’s GDP.”

    Dr. Abdullahi, in the statement which was signed by his legislative aide, Bilyaminu Bawale, then queries, “So how then can we accept the self-labelling of Nigeria as an oil-based economy?”

    According to Dr. Abdullahi,  a former academic who taught Agric Economics and Rural Sociology at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, “I would like to see a situation in which our budgets are not benchmarked on the price of oil, but rather on the value of a combined basket of major national commodities.”

    The national economy of any nation, he said, involves the people and the total sum of their endowed resources.

    For him, therefore, “the future of Nigeria’s and indeed, global economy is not oil. It lies in high technology; non-fossil energy sources, biotechnology and engineering,” arguing that in going forward, the country must build a knowledge-based economy to successfully participate in the 21st century competitive world.

    But the world economy, he warned, is moving into another cycle of crises, even when it has not completely weathered the 2008/2009 sub-prime mortgage crises, which originated in the U.S.

    Senator Abdullahi also isolated what he described as the four dangerous tendencies that are about to confront the global economy. The first, he said, is the current high interest rates in the U.S., leading to massive transfer of deposits from the emerging markets into the American economy.

    Another has been the current austerity regime in Europe, and China’s reforms to transform itself from manufacturing to service-led economy, resulting in a drop in the demand for primary commodities like oil.

    He explained that the combination of the above factors has led to shrinkage in the domestic productive capacities and massive unemployment, threatening social and political stability of many emerging markets.

    The senator then called for the public support of President Muhammadu Buhari’s new vision, as captured in the 2016 budget, to build the foundation of a new economy based on the labour of our people and the resources of our nation.

    The Nigerian economy, Senator Abdullahi notes, needs expansionary policies; the revamping of national infrastructure, such as power, rail and road networks; our health and educational institutions which have become main sources of foreign exchange drain. Other key areas of attention should be agriculture, manufacturing and processing industries as well as low interest loan facilities, especially for the arts, crafts and new technological innovators of the Nollywood and software developers, so that Nigeria can build a more creative and technology-based economy, he added. Doing all these, the senator believes, would be possible if we curbed unbridled importation of needless and ridiculous items like rice, toothpicks, milk, eggs, apples and frozen chicken.

  • How town planning can benefit society, by practitioners

    The real estate sector is estimated to hit  $13.6 billion this year, accounting for 7.6 per cent of the gross domestic product. This may be good news for investors, but experts are calling for caution, writes MUYIWA LUCAS

    Town Planers have identified some of the profession’s challenges and proffered the way out.

    The Nigeria Institute of Town Planners (NITP), at a colloquium  in Lagos, promised to make its activities more visible for the benefit of all.

    The theme of the seminar was: Making town planning more visible, with sub-themes on “The planning profession and the state of the nation; challenges of practice; Branding the profession; and technology and planning.”

    Chairman of the Organising Committee, Mr. Waheed Kadiri, said one of the challenges of the profession is the government’s attitude and the low appreciation of urban  and regional planning.

    Kadiri,  a past president of NITP, regretted that planning is remembered when there is need to blame someone or a group, adding that when decisions  are taken, budgets are proposed and decisions are taken, they are mostly done without consideration for urban and regional planning implications.

    “There is also the problem of political interference rather than intervention in the planning process to the detriment of the resulting planning actions and a perverted perception of what planning is all about,” he said.

    Also, a former Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development in Lagos State, Mr. Toyin Ayinde, rued the desperation to make money at all cost without observing the professional steps, and lack of discipline among professionals were major issues that needed to be addressed.

    Ayinde urged professionals in the public service to fast-track  approval of  plans submitted to them by their colleagues in the private practice provided  that required document are submitted and laid down rules are followed.

    “Communal success is the only thing that is sustainable. You must assist your colleagues to make them succeed and make planning profession successful. Practitioners in the public service should seek synergy among those in the private service for good success of the profession,” he advised, adding that through this effort, the profession would be better appreciated.

    Similarly, a Town Planner with the Lagos State  Government, Mr. Tunji Badejo, argued that the loss of values, lack of understanding, scarcity of information and data for planning, the band wagon effect and lackadaisical attitude, all pose challenges for the profession.

    Immediate past president, Association of Town Planners Consultants of Nigeria (ATOPCON), Mr. Moses Ogunleye, said the state of the industry on policies’ inconsistencies; training of town planners, running-down-yourself syndrome and negative perspective of image of town planners by the public have affected the profession.

    A media don, Prof Lai Oso, urged the institute to be pro-active in reacting to public issues.

    The position to be taken by the body, Oso explained, must be articulate and communicate the values of town planners to the public.

    Town Planners, he said, should  up their game to compete favourably with other professions in the built environment.

    He listed the need to explore other professions, effective communication, adherence to code of conduct and monitoring among others as brand strategies needed to promote town planning profession.

  • LASG: Planning laws remain sacrosanct

    LASG: Planning laws remain sacrosanct

    Lagos State said it would enforcement Physical Planning and Urban Development laws to stem the tide of unwholesome practices in the building industry.

    The Commissioner for Physical Planning, Urban Development, Mr. Wasiu Anifowoshe, made this known at the stakeholders’ meeting organised by the state’s Physical Planning Permit Agency (LASPPPA), under the theme, ‘keying into the benefits of City Development for Urban Sustainability.’

    Anifowoshe urged the people to always build their structures in accordance with approved building plans so as to avoid disorderliness and haphazard development in the communities, adding that Lagos State, as a fast growing megacity, is poised to ensure liveable and sustainable environment through constructive engagement of all stakeholders.

    The General Manager of the Physical Planning Permit Authority, Mr. Toyin Abdul, Convener of the stakeholders’ meeting, said the essence of the parley was to deliberate on physical planning and development issues, with a view to obtaining feedback from the stakeholders through interactive session. He said the sporadic urban growth in Ojo area has necessitated the preparation of Development Guides and the expansion of  Lagos –Badagry Express way as well as production of Badagry master plan which has spelt out some key projects such as health facilities, up-grading of schools, waterfront  development to mention a few.

    He said it is time to ensure total compliance to planning laws and regulations, saying procrastination to do the needful can no longer be allowed. “Let us learn and build in conformity with physical development plans’ law and regulations. We cannot continue to procrastinate as delay could be dangerous”, he warned.

    Unfolding government’s efforts to expedite development permit in the state, Abdul stated that 20 District Offices were created across the state, with Ojo local government included. Besides, to ensure easy retrieval of the development plan, the agency is working out a software code known as “LASPPPA Soft”, aimed at detailing recording of development permit. This is in addition to ease complication of approved building plans for gazetting, in collaboration with the Physical Planning Research and statistics Department.

    At the interactive session, Directors from the various Departments took turn to enlighten the gathering on the activities of their Departments and the process of obtaining necessary approvals and permits. The Building Materials Testing Laboratory Agency was also at hand to sensitise the people on activities it also stressed the need for people to subject the building materials to testing so as to ensure of the quality of materials being used for construction. This according to him would stem the incidence of building collapse.

    Responding to the issue raised by the Ojo market leader on the markets removed to pave the way for the expansion of Badagry Express road, he appealed to the market association to be patient with the government saying that removal of such markets was for the good of all. “Your socio-economic life will improve, your property will attract more value and transportation will become easy and affordable,” he explained.

    Responding to complaint by the Bricklayers’ Association on low patronage and preference of foreign artisans to their Nigerian counterpart,  Anifowose  said the building industry is very competitive and for the bricklayers to occupy their right position in the building industry they have to upscale their skills and register under a builder adding that the best person would always get the job as nobody would patronise anybody whose competence was in doubt.

    However, a group of professionals in the built environment  appealed to the government to create space  for facilities such as the General Hospital and burial ground in the Ojo master plan, while the Community Development Associations sought government assistance  in securing land to execute Community  development projects.

  • LASG says planning laws remains sacrosanct

    LASG says planning laws remains sacrosanct

    Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the enforcement of Physical Planning and Urban Development law of the state to stem the tide of unwholesome practices in the building industry. This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Physical Planning Urban Development Mr. Wasiu Anifowoshe at   the stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Agency (LASPPPA) at Ojo Area of Lagos State. The theme of the meeting was “keying into the benefits of City Development for Urban Sustainability.”

    Anifowoshe admonished people to always build their structures in accordance with the approved building plans so as to avoid disorderliness and haphazard development in the Communities adding that Lagos State as a fast growing megacity is poised to ensure liveable and sustainable environment through constructive engagement of all stakeholders.

    The General Manager of the Physical Planning Permit Authority Mr. Toyin Abdul, the Convener of the stakeholders’ meeting, said the essence of the meeting was to deliberate on physical planning and development issues with a view of obtaining feedback from the stakeholders through interactive session. He said the sporadic urban growth in Ojo area has necessitated the preparation of Development Guides and the expansion of  Lagos –Badagry Express way as well as production of Badagry master plan which has spelt out some key projects such as health facilities, up-grading of schools, waterfront  development to mention a few.

    He stated that it is time to ensure total compliance to planning laws and regulations, saying procrastination to do the needful can no longer be allowed. “Let us learn and build in conformity with physical development plans’ law and regulations. We cannot continue to procrastinate as delay could be dangerous”, he warned.

    Unfolding government’s efforts to expedite development permit in the state, Abdul stated that 20 District Offices were created across the state, with Ojo local government included. Besides, to ensure easy retrieval of the development plan, the agency is working out a software code known as “LASPPPA Soft”, aimed at detailing recording of development permit. This is in addition to ease complication of approved building plans for gazetting, in collaboration with the Physical Planning Research and statistics Department.

    At the interactive session, Directors from the various Departments took turn to enlighten the gathering on the activities of their Departments and the process of obtaining necessary approvals and permits. The Building Materials Testing Laboratory Agency was also at hand to sensitise the people on activities it also stressed the need for people to subject the building materials to testing so as to ensure of the quality of materials being used for construction. This according to him would stem the incidence of building collapse.

    Responding to the issue raised by the Ojo market leader on the markets removed to pave the way for the expansion of Badagry Express road, he appealed to the market association to be patient with the government saying that removal of such markets was for the good of all. “Your socio-economic life will improve, your property will attract more value and transportation will become easy and affordable,” he explained.

    Responding to complaint by the Bricklayers’ Association on low patronage and preference of foreign Artisans to their Nigerian counterpart,  Anifowose  said the building industry is very competitive and for the bricklayers to occupy their right position in the building industry they have to upscale their skills and register under a builder adding that the best person would always get the job as nobody would patronise anybody whose competence was in doubt.

    However, a group of Professionals in the built environment  appealed to the government to create space  for facilities such as the General Hospital and burial ground in the Ojo master plan, while the Community Development Associations sought government assistance  in securing land to execute Community  development projects.

  • ‘Wike not planning protest’

    ‘Wike not planning protest’

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike last night denied sponsoring youths from the state to Abuja, to protest against former Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s  clearance for minister by the senate.

    Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the governor, Mr. Opunabo Inko-Tariah said: “The allegation is not only spurious, but fatuous and malicious. Governor Wike has no cause to orchestrate a protest against Amaechi’s appointment.

    “Let me reiterate that Governor Wike has no nexus with the appointment of Amaechi or otherwise. It is the right of an appointor to appoint anybody of his choice, provided such appointment is in sync with the relevant laws.

    “The appointment of Amaechi will definitely have no bearing on the governance of Rivers State. There are crucial issues the governor is more concerned with, which are issues of the state.”

  • ‘Land Use Planning Report’ll ease land use’

    ‘Land Use Planning Report’ll ease land use’

    The President, Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Dr Femi Olomola, has assured that the Land Use Planning Report (LUPAR) will expand Site Analysis Report (SAR) applications.

    He spoke during the institute’s 17th Mandatory Continuing Professional Development Programme (MCPDP) in Kaduna, Kaduna State.

    The forum had as a theme: “Development of a Multi-User Template for Land Use Planning and Analysis Reporting (LUPAR) in Nigeria.”

    He said the initiative, conceived by his administration, would build on the SAR’s processes and procedures, add references and other information on buildings, title deeds, the local land use and development, and permits on property.

    According to town planners, the new LUPAR format, in addition to other benefits, can become a useful and authentic instrument that supports applications for opening of corporate bank accounts, process bank loans, make requests for insurance cover, and incorporate/register new companies with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

    Besides, it would address the applications for building plan approvals/permits, issuance of certificates of occupancies (C-of-Os), and value to security and regulatory agencies, among others.

    “With LUPAR, it is hoped that 95 per cent of all problems related to lack of data, inadequate personnel and stress on development control will be significantly addressed. This shall lead to situations where our colleagues in government can now rely on LUPAR as a companion in their decision making processes. A combination of two or three LUPARs in the same neighbourhood will, if carefully joined together, provide an updated base map of the neighbourhood at zero cost to the Town Planning Authority,” Olomola explained.

    He added that the expanded areas of its application cut across various sectors of the economy, many of which have relevance to the financial sector and regulatory agencies.

    He said the MCPDP was aimed at building consensus on the new template among the practitioners and to allow for input before the report will be presented in October.

    He said a draft of the report would be ready before the institute’s national conference and yearly general meeting in October in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

    “Be rest assured that a draft of the LUPAR will be prepared and made available in time for our next conference in Ilorin in October. All suggestions bothering comments, observations and corrections made during this MCPDP and the previous ones in Port Harcourt and Ibadan will between now and October be looked into and possibly adopted so that will have a robust LUPAR that we will present to a full house of the NITP in Ilorin,” Olomola said.

    Kaduna State Chapter Chairman, NITP, Muhammad Lawal Ubale,  said the state has been fortunate since its inception in having plans for its development.

    He recalled: “The first plan was drawn in 1913. The Kaduna master plan was prepared in 1967 to cover the planning period from 1961 to 2017. In 2010, the master plan was reviewed and Kaduna Spatial Development Framework was prepared for a planning period from 2010 to 2050. You may also wish to know that Kaduna became the administrative capital of Northern Nigeria from 1917 to 1959. It became the regional headquarters of Northern Nigeria from 1960 to 1966. In 1969, Kaduna became the capital North Central State up to 1975. Kaduna also became the capital of old Kaduna State which included the present Katsina State.

  • ‘Land Use Planning Report’ll ease land use’

    ‘Land Use Planning Report’ll ease land use’

    The President, Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Dr Femi Olomola, has assured that the Land Use Planning Report (LUPAR) will expand Site Analysis Report (SAR) applications.

    He spoke during the institute’s 17th Mandatory Continuing Professional Development Programme (MCPDP) in Kaduna, Kaduna State.

    The forum had as a theme: “Development of a Multi-User Template for Land Use Planning and Analysis Reporting (LUPAR) in Nigeria.”

    He said the initiative, conceived by his administration, would build on the SAR’s processes and procedures, add references and other information on buildings, title deeds, the local land use and development, and permits on property.

    According to town planners, the new LUPAR format, in addition to other benefits, can become a useful and authentic instrument that supports applications for opening of corporate bank accounts, process bank loans, make requests for insurance cover, and incorporate/register new companies with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

    Besides, it would address the applications for building plan approvals/permits, issuance of certificates of occupancies (C-of-Os), and value to security and regulatory agencies, among others.

    “With LUPAR, it is hoped that 95 per cent of all problems related to lack of data, inadequate personnel and stress on development control will be significantly addressed. This shall lead to situations where our colleagues in government can now rely on LUPAR as a companion in their decision making processes. A combination of two or three LUPARs in the same neighbourhood will, if carefully joined together, provide an updated base map of the neighbourhood at zero cost to the Town Planning Authority,” Olomola explained.

    He added that the expanded areas of its application cut across various sectors of the economy, many of which have relevance to the financial sector and regulatory agencies.

    He said the MCPDP was aimed at building consensus on the new template among the practitioners and to allow for input before the report will be presented in October.

    He said a draft of the report would be ready before the institute’s national conference and yearly general meeting in October in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

    “Be rest assured that a draft of the LUPAR will be prepared and made available in time for our next conference in Ilorin in October. All suggestions bothering comments, observations and corrections made during this MCPDP and the previous ones in Port Harcourt and Ibadan will between now and October be looked into and possibly adopted so that will have a robust LUPAR that we will present to a full house of the NITP in Ilorin,” Olomola said.

    Kaduna State Chapter Chairman, NITP, Muhammad Lawal Ubale,  said the state has been fortunate since its inception in having plans for its development.

    He recalled: “The first plan was drawn in 1913. The Kaduna master plan was prepared in 1967 to cover the planning period from 1961 to 2017. In 2010, the master plan was reviewed and Kaduna Spatial Development Framework was prepared for a planning period from 2010 to 2050. You may also wish to know that Kaduna became the administrative capital of Northern Nigeria from 1917 to 1959. It became the regional headquarters of Northern Nigeria from 1960 to 1966. In 1969, Kaduna became the capital North Central State up to 1975. Kaduna also became the capital of old Kaduna State which included the present Katsina State.

    ‘’Finally, Kaduna became capital of the Kaduna State from 1989 to date. The experience of Kaduna as a regional capital and the role it is playing in Northern Nigeria and Nigeria in general cannot be overemphasised.”

  • Kwara Assembly summons Town planning authority

    The Kwara State House of Assembly has summoned the state management of the Town Planning and Development Authority over non-enforcement of town planning regulations in towns and cities in the state.

    This is part of resolutions of the House of Assembly after considering a motion titled: “Conversion of residential buildings to hotels, club houses and beer parlours.” The motion was moved by a member representing Ilorin Central Constituency, Hajia Segilola AbdulKadir. The Speaker Dr Ali Ahmad while reading the resolutions of the House said that the  non-enforcement of the town planning regulations had led to disorderliness of towns and cities in the state. The House equally charged the Town Planning Authority to be alive to its responsibility by ensuring that residential buildings are not inappropriately converted to event centres without necessary approvals and taking into consideration the public nuisance and security implications that such places would pose to residents.

    Hajia Abdul Kadir had observed in her motion that the town planning and development Authority was charged with the responsibility of controlling, regulating and maintaining all laws guiding the physical planning of the state to ensure healthy development of settlements and communities. She however expressed worries that the indiscriminate conversion and distortion of environmental planning as well as the master plan of cities in the state had resulted into security and social problems for other residents in the affected areas.

    Others, who contributed on the motion, said the authority had over stretched the patience of the people, and as such, had caused numerous problems for government and the people of the dtate to content with.

  • UN-Habitat releases guidelines on urban planning

    The United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat), has predicted that by 2050, seven out of 10 people will be living in cities, leading to a rapid urbanisation.

    According to the body, this trend has been fueled by inappropriate policies, plans and designs of towns, which has led to inadequate spatial distribution of people and activities, and resulting in proliferation of slums, congestion, poor access to basic services, environmental degradation, and social inequity and segregation.

    To this end, the UN-Habitat has released guidelines to provide governments, local authorities, civil society organisations and planning professionals with a global reference framework that promotes more compact, socially inclusive, better integrated and connected cities and territories that foster sustainable urban development and are resilient to climate change.

    The guideline, known as the International Guidelines on Urban and Territorial Planning, serves as a compass for policy makers and urban professionals when reviewing urban and territorial planning systems.provide national governments, local authorities, civil society organisations and planning professionals with a global reference framework that promotes more compact, socially inclusive, better integrated and connected cities and territories that foster sustainable urban development and are resilient to climate change.

    It also comes in handy when reviewing, developing and implementing urban and territorial planning frameworks, and will be available in seven other languages of Arabic, Chinese, French, Persian, Russian, Spanish and Vietnamese.

    The drafting of the guidelines, which spanned over two years, was supported by 35 experts, through a broad-based consultative and participatory process and based on evidence, good practices and lessons learnt from various contexts and at various planning scale.

    The United Nations (UN) agencies and members of the Committee of Permanent Representatives at UN-Habitat were also consulted and briefed throughout the development of the Guidelines.

    The process was supported by financial and technical contributions from the government of France through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the government of Japan through the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism the Prefectural Government of Fukuoka, the Municipal Government of Fukuoka and Seinan Gakuin University in Fukuoka.