By Blessing Ameloko-Odoh
The Kogi State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable urban development, orderly physical planning, and modern infrastructure as the newly elected Executive Committee of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Kogi State Chapter, paid a courtesy visit to the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Hon. Abanika Taiye.
The delegation, led by the Chairman of the Institute, TPL Sani Daniel, FNITP, was received alongside the Ministry’s management team, including the Acting Permanent Secretary, Directors, veteran town planners, and retired Permanent Secretaries.
Speaking during the visit, TPL Sani Daniel said the visit was aimed at introducing the newly inaugurated executive, reaffirming the Institute’s partnership with the Ministry, and strengthening collaboration between government and professional town planners.
He commended the Kogi State Government for its efforts toward improving infrastructure and promoting orderly urban development, noting that the state’s rapid urbanisation and growing population make professional physical planning indispensable.
According to him, the Institute is prepared to provide technical support in areas such as physical planning, urban regeneration, development control, regional planning, transportation planning, environmental management, and sustainable land use.
He advocated the review of comprehensive master plans for major urban centres, stronger development control to curb indiscriminate physical development, greater involvement of professional town planners in policy formulation and project implementation, and continuous capacity building for planning officers across Ministries, Departments, Agencies, and Local Government Councils.
TPL.Daniel assured the Commissioner of the Institute’s commitment to supporting government in building a well-planned, prosperous, and livable Kogi State.
Responding, the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Hon. Abanika Taiye, described the visit as timely and commended the Institute for its continued support towards achieving the state’s urban development objectives.
He disclosed that the Ministry has made significant progress toward the development of a comprehensive master plan for the state, revealing that the engagement of consultants for the project has reached an advanced stage following consideration at the highest levels of government.
The Commissioner explained that the exercise would involve town planning professionals across the state to ensure the production of a comprehensive and sustainable master plan capable of addressing Kogi’s present and future urban development needs.
Hon. Abanika expressed confidence in the wealth of professional expertise available within the state, describing Kogi as home to experienced and highly skilled town planners capable of driving the government’s urban development agenda.
He cited ongoing projects, including the Ultra-Modern Market in Lokoja and the ongoing airport development, as clear indications of the government’s determination to accelerate urbanisation while ensuring orderly physical development.
The Commissioner recalled the Ministry’s 2024 Modern Housing and Urban Renewal Symposium, noting that the event produced a comprehensive communiqué and a five-year strategic development plan for the housing and urban development sector.
According to him, empowering indigenous town planners to actively participate in the planning and regulation of the state’s physical development remains one of the government’s priorities.
He also reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to manpower development, assuring the Institute of government’s readiness to support the training and professional development of town planners across the state.
Hon. Abanika further announced plans by the Ministry to convene a stakeholders’ forum in October, bringing together landlords, tenants, residents, developers, and other critical stakeholders to deliberate on issues relating to physical planning and urban development.
He explained that the forum would feature technical presentations highlighting the roles and responsibilities of town planners, with the overall objective of promoting orderly urbanisation and ensuring that Kogi State achieves development standards consistent with its growing status.
The Commissioner added that Governor would be invited to participate in the programme to further demonstrate the administration’s commitment to sustainable urban development.
He assured the delegation that the Ministry, in collaboration with the Kogi State Town Planning and Development Board, would continue to support initiatives aimed at strengthening physical planning and ensuring sustainable growth across the state.
The courtesy visit ended with both the Ministry and the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners reaffirming their commitment to deeper collaboration in advancing orderly, professional, and sustainable urban development in Kogi State
