Chinedum Treasure
The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) Anambra State has pledged readiness to partner with government and other relevant institutions to achieve a well-planned, sustainable and economically vibrant State akin to Dubai and Taiwan.
State Chairman, Tpl. Ifeanyi Igwilo who stated this in Awka during a visit to the office of the Attorney-General of the state and Commissioner for Justice said the visit was informed by plan to amend the existing Anambra State Physical Planning Law by the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.
He stressed the need for his organization to be formally consulted on any proposed amendment to the Law, insisting that such reforms should be inclusive, professional, evidence-based and institutionally sound.
Igwilo urged government to critically examine the implementation of the existing physical planning law and address identified administrative and institutional weaknesses before considering wholesale changes to the law.
“Broad-based stakeholders’ consultation involving Town Planners, Architects, Engineers, Surveyors, Estate Surveyors, Environmental professionals, relevant government agencies, traditional institutions, local governments and other stakeholders should be conducted before major amendments are finalised,” he said.
Describing NITP as body committed to promoting orderly, functional, sustainable and environmentally-responsible human settlements, the chairman maintained that responsibilities of his members and other built-environment professionals should be clearly preserved and respected in the development-approval process.
He added, “We recognise the important role of the Ministry of Justice in ensuring that government policies, laws and administrative actions are properly grounded in law and implemented in accordance with established principles of public administration.
“We therefore respectfully seek your intervention, professional counsel and support in ensuring that any discourse on physical planning legislation and development control is handled in a manner that protects the rule of law, respects professional competence and promotes the public interest.
“We are confident that, with the cooperation of the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, the professional bodies and other stakeholders, Anambra state can establish a physical planning system that will serve present and future generations.”
Also speaking, former Chairman of the Chapter, Tpl Ben Okoye regretted non-constitution of local planning authority in town planning job at the grassroots for many years now.
He argued that when the extant law is implemented fully, some of the encountered problem, including individuals developing outside planning standards would not arise.
“According to the law, there must be a chairman of the planning authority, executive secretary, town planners representing the ministry, engineers, stakeholders from the local govt works department as well as two communities rotated within the local government.
“These are the people that will carry out the message to the grassroots to ensure due compliance from the locals.
“The board as provided by the law has never been constituted. The last board under Barr Chike Maduekwe was a one-man show. The chairman of the board supposed to be a part-time Chairman who sits six times a year.
“But this never happened, rather he arrogated to himself the status of Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, instead of Chairman, being approved by the law.”
Responding, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr Tochukwu Nweke underscored the place of consultation in the physical planning law amendment to ensure critical stakeholders were carried along in its enactment.
He however observed that some of the issues listed by the Town Planners were not within its jurisdiction to handle, promising to liaise with their Physical Planning and Urban Development counterpart to address the Institute’s demands as regards law and staffing of the ministry.
“I will do my best to ensure that the right thing is done perhaps during oversight function,” he said.
Other NITP members in the entourage included Tpl Maduakonam Amaechina, Tpl Emma Ifemedebe (former chairmen), Tpl Okolo Chris (Public Relations Secretary), Tpl Chikwado Okpara (Internal Auditor) and Okoye ifechukwu (Assistant Secretary).
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