NITP tasks governments to step up actions against ocean surge, flooding

The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) has called on both the Federal and Ondo State Governments on the need to take quick steps to arrest the perennial menace of ocean surge and flooding in Nigeria’s communities.

Speaking during the quarterly press briefing on Monday, President of the institute, Mr Nathaniel Atebije, said that such urgent measures  is necessary to salvage Ayetoro  community in Ondo State from the ocean surge, adding that the solutions should also be extended to other vulnerable places which suffer similar environmental distress.

However, he enjoined all dwellers in places prone to flooding to relocate to safer places to avoid disasters this year.

In a recent disaster in Aiyetoro, a riverine community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, ocean surge displaced over 2,000 people while 200 houses were destroyed.

While sympathising with the victims of the catastrophe, Atebije said the need to take more practical and positive actions is overdue.

According to him, permanent solutions such as relocation of residents to a more secure environment should be sought instead of the temporary relief measures provided by the emergency management agencies of government.

“We call upon the State and the Federal Governments to step up actions through intensive studies and production of implementable plans to arrest this menace,” he said.

With the theme The New Dawn: We Are Either Done or Down,” the NITP boss reminded President Bola Tinubu of his campaign promise to ensure full compliance with town planning and environmental laws and edicts.

He urged the setting up of institutions to implement the Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Law, which was enacted about 30 years ago such as National Physical Planning Commission to embark on the preparation of National Physical Plan.

The NITP boss called on the Federal Government to restructure its agencies and create a single ministry of physical planning rather than being an appendage to other ministries.

“We call on the ruling party to avoid the error of winner takes all; be open to advice and collaborate with other parties to move Nigeria to enduring peace and prosperity.

“Other parties should wipe out the concept of opposition and complement the activities of the ruling party to enable us to enjoy peace and prosperity in the land,” he said

On recent efforts of the Governor of Kano State and his officials to bring sanity to the physical development of Kano city, Atebije said that as good as the intention appears, the state government should carry out such actions after detailed studies.

He called on the government to exercise restraint in these actions and carry them out logically and professionally.

“Time it was when we planned for people, now we plan and execute the plan with the people, moreso we are a democracy.”

“As at last count, it was revealed that properties worth N126 billion have gone down the drain in an ailing national economy.

“We call on the government of Kano State to handle the enforcement on illegal developments professionally, logically and with human face especially because of the impact of the actions on the economy; taking note that democracy is practiced through consensus and collaboration,” the number one town planner in Nigeria said.

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