The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) has urged governments at all levels to adopt and implement comprehensive master plans that designate spaces for street traders, saying poor urban planning remains the primary driver of street trading across Nigeria.
The call was made at the Eastern Planners Forum (EPF) in Awka, Anambra State, where town planning professionals from Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Rivers and Anambra states adopted a resolution urging governments to incorporate dedicated facilities for informal traders into urban development plans.
The forum, themed “Street Trading and Regional Development in Awka: Pathways to Urban-Rural Integration and Labour Absorption”, examined the impact of street trading on regional development, using Awka as a case study.
Speaking at the event, the National President of NITP, Dr Ogbonna Chime, said street trading is largely a consequence of unplanned settlements and weak land-use management.
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He explained that properly prepared master plans are designed to accommodate the needs of all categories of residents while ensuring orderly physical development.
“The challenge in Nigeria, as in many developing countries, is that development often precedes planning. When this happens, critical aspects of human settlements are neglected, resulting in the misuse of land and unsafe practices such as street trading,” Chime said.
He described street trading as a violation of planned land use, warning that trading along major roads has contributed to avoidable accidents and loss of lives.
To address the problem, Chime urged governments to establish specialised markets for low-income traders at affordable rental rates while ensuring transparent allocation of shops to intended beneficiaries.
“It is the responsibility of government to correct planning deficiencies by providing designated markets for informal traders and preventing the diversion or resale of shops meant for low-income earners,” he added.
The Chairman of the NITP Anambra State Chapter, Mr Ifeanyi Igwilo, stated that the Eastern Planners Forum has become an important platform for professional collaboration, knowledge sharing, and the development of practical solutions to emerging planning challenges.
He identified rapid urbanisation, climate change, environmental degradation, housing shortages, traffic congestion and mounting pressure on infrastructure as key issues requiring coordinated planning across the region.
Igwilo stressed that sustainable development can only be achieved when qualified town planners are actively involved in policymaking, land administration, urban renewal, development control, transportation planning and environmental management.
“Every successful city is built on sound planning, while every thriving economy depends on orderly physical development. Governments must continue to leverage the expertise of professional town planners to achieve sustainable development,” he said.
He also commended the Anambra State Government for establishing the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, describing the initiative as aligned with global best practices in urban planning.
