The Federal Government in collaboration with United Nations Habitat have concluded arrangements to carry out a comprehensive review of 2012 National Urban Development Policy (NUDP), to boost the built environment after a decade of operation.
Besides, they stated that the direction and pattern of growth and development of urban centres in Nigeria have become a matter of serious concern because of lack of planning and impunity/violation of extant regulations by developers in urban areas.
Speaking at the National Validation Workshop in Abuja, the Minister of State Work and Housing, Umar Ibrahim El-Yakub stated that this is intended to revolutionise Nigeria’s human settlement development sector, and at international level through the UN-Habitat, which will guide in reviewing old documents.
El-Yakub explained that the draft has received inputs from several stakeholders and subjected them to very meticulous revision at both local and international spheres, saying the workshop will offer a unique opportunity to lay a firm foundation for urban development activities.
“Although the new policy document fully recognizes the super-structure provided in 2012, it will enshrine a new approach in its contextualization and has integrated several pertinent contemporary issues and challenges confronting the country,” he said.
Dr. Remy Sietchiping of United Nations-Habitat stated that the revised policy is meant to be innovative, and building inspiring worldwide practices, as well as geared towards delivering global and Africa Agendas on urban development.
Sietchiping added that it will be anchored on the Nigerian Constitution with National development priorities and frameworks while setting the federal standard in terms of seeking to assist state governments to develop and implement transformative and locally grounded policy.
He commended the Federal Government for effort to prepare an inclusive and participatory National Urban Development Policy to respond to contemporary challenges and take advantage of the urbanisation opportunities provided by Works and Housing ministry.
“From UN-Habitat’s perspective, we are committed to support states to implement policies that are aligned with their national interests, especially 2022 to 2027 for Nigeria that aims to achieve urban policy coherence between urban and rural areas and better spatial planning.”
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Bashir Alkali saluted thE courage and the wealth of experience of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) and Town Planners Registration Council of Nigeria (TOPREC), and other bodies for their inputs in the built environment.
Also speaking, President, Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, Nathaniel Atebije, noted that the step being taken by the government is in fulfilment of one of the provisions of the Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Law of 1992 as amended in 2004.
“This effort which started in 2019 has been directed at reviewing the 2012 policy that was due for this action since 2017. Well, ‘delay is not denial’ and we can comfortably state that we are still on track to achieve our laudable goal in urban technology,”Atebije said.
He stressed that the policy will provide the platform for reasserting urban space and territoriality, which is vital in giving the needed direction and course of action to support the sustainable development.
Source: Guardian.ng
