By OGEMDI OZOEMENAM, Awka
The Nigeria Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Eastern Bloc of Nigeria have called on Governments to use pre-prepared masterplan to plan for street traders in the region.
Members of the Institute drawn from nine states of the region namely Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Rivers and Anambra passed the resolution during her Eastern Planners Forum (EPF) held in Awka, Anambra State Capital.
The event which had as it’s theme “Street trading and regional development in Awka: Pathways to Urban-Rural Integration and Labour Absorption,” sought to examine the impact of street trading in the region using Awka as a case study.
Setting the tone for the discourse, the National President, Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Dr Ogbonna Andrew Chime said the masterplan prepared ahead of time, takes care of all classes of people, including animals and plants.
He noted that street trading exists because regional or state settlements are not planned ahead of time, thereby leading to what he called ‘abuse of land use.’
“There is future for everybody so long as town planning profession is concerned.
But the problem we have in the country, just like other developing countries, is that developments always precede planning and when that occurs, most of these elements in the universe are not taken care of. Thus, our emphasis is that before any settlement takes off, there has to be a pre-prepared masterplan to accommodate living and non living things.
“If you take statistics of casualties who died while marketing their wares on the road, you will be stunned. Street trading is abuse of land use. The masterplan prepares for how a settlement should be managed. So when anything is happening outside the provisions of the masterplan, it is abuse of land use,” he said.
To correct street trading occasioned by lack of planning, Dr Chime charged government to build specialised markets for low-income earners so as to enable them rent shops at low-cost.
“It is the duty of elected government as the regulator of all human activities, to correct any misplanning in the polity. Thus, they should find a location where a specialised market should be built for the low-income earners.”
He expressed optimism that the era of government officials reselling relief markets meant for low-income earners is gone.
“What is important is for the people to know that this relief market is meant for them, hence should be advised not to buy from anybody and should get their allocation directly from government,” National President NITP concluded.
Earlier, the Chairman, NITP Anambra State Chapter, Mr Ifeanyi Igwilo revealed that the Eastern Planners Forum has continued to serve as a vital platform for professional collaboration, exchange of ideas, peer learning, and the advancement of sustainable physical planning within the zone
He noted that the rapid pace of urbanisation, climate change, environmental degradation, housing deficits, traffic congestion, and increasing pressure on infrastructure demand innovative planning solutions and stronger inter-state cooperation.
According to him, sustainable development can only be achieved when planning principles guide development decisions, calling for greater involvement of qualified Town Planners in policy formulation, land administration, urban renewal, development control, transportation planning, and environmental management.
“Every successful city is built on sound planning, and every thriving economy depends on orderly physical development.
“Our profession remains indispensable in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those relating to sustainable cities and communities, climate resilience, economic development, and environmental sustainability.
“It is therefore imperative that governments at all Levels continue to recognise and utilise the expertise of Town Planners in shaping Nigeria’s future,” Igwilo averred.
He maintained that the creation of the Ministry of Physical Planning and and Urban Development by Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo administration, aligns with the objectives of professional physical planning and sustainable urban development towards making Anambra State the Dubai-Taiwan of Africa
Responding, Anambra State Government, through the Commissioner for Land, Prof Offornze Amucheazi said a well-planned Anambra is a prosperous Anambra, which can only happen when government and professionals alike work in partnership.
Amucheazi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Barr Mrs NKiru Muokwe, assured that Anambra Government is committed to working closely with NITP and other stakeholders to strengthen planning laws and their enforcement, promote sustainable urban and rural development, digitize land records and planning approvals for efficiency and transparency and support capacity building for planners in the state.
He urged the Eastern Town Planners to come up with practical resolutions to address the unique challenges of the Eastern zone like flooding, urban sprawl, infrastructure pressure, and climate change.
“Let this forum produce ideas that can be taken back to our respective states for implementation.”
