Building Collapse: NITP Boss Urges implementation of 1992 Urban Planning Law

By Praise Chinecherem

Nigerian Instutue of Town Planners (NITP) has blamed cases of building collapse in Nigeria to yet-to-be implemented 1992 Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Law.

National President, Dr Ogbonna Chime disclosed this in Awka, Anambra state during a town hall and training on leadership roles in Urban Planning Profession and its Administration.

He said the components of the Law, drafted by Nigerians were enough guarantee against factors to building collapse or other forms of mishaps in the building environment.

According to Chime, for the country to move forward without records of building collapse, there was need for the implementation of the Law.

He also dismissed as false allegations of members’ collaboration with property owners on use of substandard materials, insisting that no trained and professional town planner would be involved in such unethical conducts.

He said, “In 1992, Nigerians government in its wisdom, crafted what we call 1992 Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Law.

“This law was drafted by our people for our people as against that of 1946 made by the colonial masters whose interest was more selfish than for the benefit of the Nigerian people.

“Those provisions that used to impede functional town planning activities were corrected in the law drafted by Nigerian government.

“Under this law, the Chairman of the Town Planning Authority at the local level and the Executive Secretary are all town planners.

“Professionals in the building sector are also employed on part time basis to work with the team. These professionals are not only proactive, but ready to die for the truth.

“The new law provides for all these and if the implementation has started, especially in parts of the country devoid of swamps, nobody will be talking about building collapse.

“Under the same law, you have a Town Planner in the board at the state level, an Architect, land and quantity surveyors, estate manager and civil engineer.

“When you have a collection of these professionals in the building environment, I believe that once the law is implemented, we won’t be talking about building collapse.

“Meanwhile, the federal government, a week ago, through the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development inaugurated a task force that overseas how building collapse can be prevented.”

Emphasizing the importance of the training which included educating members on the expectations for effective functioning, NITP boss expressed confidence that the engagement would further address challenges in the profession.

His words: “Just like any other professions, you do have misunderstanding among members. We discovered that this misunderstanding arises from lack of knowledge of how the institute operates.

“As a result, we decided to be organizing leadership training for all our members across the three zones – Eastern, Northern and Western.

“The training is targeted at educating members, especially younger ones on what it takes to function as an officer as well as upgrade their knowledge on content, value and provisions on our constitution.

“Since we started this training, we’ve discovered that the level of crisis at the state level is reducing and we’re happy.

“Professionals have been selected from different areas of planning and other related issues to do justice to the various assigned topics.”

State Chairman, Tpl Dr Nwofor Ben said the stakeholders meeting was opportunity for stakeholders and players in the field of physical planning to interact and iron out grey areas of the profession for the benefit of the general public.