Anambra Town Planners Demand Stakeholders’ Input in Proposed Physical Planning Law Amendment

By Praise Chinecherem

AWKA — The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Anambra State Chapter, has called for broad-based stakeholders’ consultation in the proposed amendment of the Anambra State Physical Planning Law, insisting that any legislative reform must protect professional competence, strengthen institutions and promote sustainable urban development.

The institute made the demand during a courtesy visit to the office of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Tochukwu Nweke, in Awka, where it expressed its readiness to collaborate with the state government and relevant institutions to build a well-planned, sustainable and economically vibrant Anambra State.

The state chairman of NITP, Tpl. Ifeanyi Igwilo, said the visit was prompted by the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development’s plans to amend the existing physical planning legislation.

Igwilo stressed that the institute must be formally involved in the amendment process, describing consultation as essential to ensuring that proposed reforms are inclusive, evidence-based and institutionally sound.

He urged the government to first examine the implementation of the existing law and address identified administrative and institutional weaknesses before embarking on comprehensive legislative changes.

“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,” Igwilo said.

NITP Seeks Protection of Professional Roles

The NITP chairman described the institute as an organisation committed to promoting orderly, functional, sustainable and environmentally responsible human settlements.

He emphasised the need for clearly defined professional responsibilities within the development approval process, arguing that the roles of town planners and other built-environment professionals must be preserved and respected.

“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,” he stated.

Igwilo further appealed to the Attorney-General to provide professional counsel and institutional support to ensure that discussions on physical planning legislation and development control uphold the rule of law and serve the public interest.

“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,” he said.

He expressed confidence that collaboration among the Ministries of Justice and Physical Planning and Urban Development, professional bodies and other stakeholders could help establish a physical planning system capable of serving present and future generations.

Former Chairman Faults Non-Constitution of Planning Authorities

Also speaking, a former chairman of the NITP Anambra Chapter, Tpl. Ben Okoye, expressed concern over the failure to constitute local planning authorities responsible for town planning activities at the grassroots over the years.

Okoye maintained that full implementation of the existing law could help address several challenges, including developments carried out outside approved planning standards.

According to him, the law provides for a planning authority comprising a chairman, an executive secretary, town planners representing the ministry, engineers, representatives of the local government works department and community stakeholders.

“These are the people that will carry out the message to the grassroots to ensure due compliance from the locals,” he explained.

Okoye alleged that the planning board provided for under the law had not been constituted, adding that the last board, under Barr. Chike Maduekwe, operated as a one-man administration.

He said the law envisaged a part-time chairman who would sit six times annually, but alleged that the arrangement was not implemented as prescribed.

“The chairman of the board is 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, as provided by the law,” Okoye alleged.

The allegations were presented during the meeting as part of the institute’s concerns about the implementation of the existing planning framework.

Attorney-General Promises Intervention

Responding, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Tochukwu Nweke, underscored the importance of consultation in the proposed amendment of the physical planning law, stressing that critical stakeholders should be carried along in the legislative process.

Nweke, however, noted that some of the issues raised by the town planners fell outside the direct jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice.

He assured the delegation that he would liaise with his counterpart in the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development to address the institute’s concerns relating to the proposed legislation and staffing of the ministry.

“I will do my best to ensure that the right thing is done, perhaps during oversight function,” Nweke said.

Members of the NITP delegation included Tpl. Maduakonam Amaechina, Tpl. Emma Ifemedebe, both former chapter chairmen; Tpl. Okolo Chris, Public Relations Secretary; Tpl. Chikwado Okpara, Internal Auditor; and Okoye Ifechukwu, Assistant Secretary.

The meeting focused on strengthening institutional coordination, professional participation and the implementation of physical planning regulations in Anambra State.

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