Nigeria’s Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh has called on the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) to engage the National Assembly in pursuing constitutional amendments to strengthen physical planning and regional development across the country.
The Minister made the call during a meeting with the leadership of the institute in Abuja, according to a statement issued by the NITP.
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Momoh said constitutional amendments fall within the responsibility of the legislature and urged the institute to intensify its engagement with lawmakers on its proposal to move town planning from the residual legislative list to the concurrent legislative list.
The institute argued that the current constitutional framework limits the federal government’s role in land administration and physical planning, thereby hindering the effective implementation of coordinated regional development initiatives.
Responding to the institute’s request for increased employment of professional town planners, the minister clarified that recruitment into the federal civil service is the responsibility of the Federal Civil Service Commission.
He, however, directed the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Mary Ada Ogbe, to document the need for additional town planners and forward the request to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation for consideration during future recruitment exercises.
Momoh also advised town planning consultants to register with the appropriate federal authorities to enhance their eligibility for consultancy opportunities within the ministry.
On the institute’s invitation to attend and support its 57th International Conference, the minister said his schedule might be constrained by political engagements but assured the delegation that the Permanent Secretary would represent the ministry if he were unable to attend.
He further advised the institute to formally petition the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to facilitate the deployment of town planners across relevant ministries, departments and agencies, rather than limiting their employment to the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.
The minister disclosed that the Ministry of Regional Development had submitted four strategic policy frameworks to the Federal Executive Council for approval. The policies focus on Spatial Equity and Territorial Balance, Regional Economic Transformation, Infrastructure Connectivity, and Social Equity and Human Capital.
He assured the institute that professional town planners would play a critical role in implementing the policies once they receive government approval.
Earlier, NITP National President, Tpl. Dr Ogbonna Chime, described the institute as a strategic partner in advancing the ministry’s mandate and called for stronger collaboration to promote sustainable regional development.
Chime advocated the establishment of a dedicated town planning department within the ministry, increased recruitment of professional town planners, and greater engagement of town planning consultants in the preparation and implementation of regional development plans.
He also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for establishing the Ministry of Regional Development and the six Regional Development Commissions, describing the initiatives as important steps towards balanced national development and reducing regional disparities.
The NITP delegation further appealed for greater participation of professional town planners in the ministry’s programmes and requested federal government support for capacity building through sponsorship of planners to attend the institute’s 57th International Conference.
Established in October 2024 following the restructuring of the former Ministry of Niger Delta Development, the Ministry of Regional Development is responsible for coordinating policies, programmes and interventions aimed at promoting balanced and sustainable development across Nigeria’s regions.
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