NITP to Lagos govt: Recruit more town planners

President of the Nigeria Institute of Town Planners, Mr. Nathaniel Atebije, has called on the Lagos State government to recruit more town planners for the implementation of various development plans in the state.

NITP president made this call during a courtesy visit to the ministry and the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Oluyinka Olumide.

He said that the institute is aware of the efforts of the state government towards the sustainability of the built environment, particularly the engagement of town planners and other professionals in recent times.

He said the state government should recruit more town planners and other related professionals to enhance the implementation of development plans.

He disclosed that the Institute is very much ready to support the training needs of the ministry, saying that its rich training manual is quite instructive.

Earlier, the Lagos State Government had expressed its desire to partner the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners on the capacity development of town planning officers in its employment

Dr Olumide made this known to the visiting NITP president in Alausa.

The commissioner said that one of the ways to enhance the performance of staff is through training and retraining and that the collaboration of NITP would be quite instructive in this regard.

He emphasised that investing in human capital would enhance employee’s exposure and propel the development of the state, adding that the 21st-Century Lagos requires dexterity with modern planning tools.

“For us to be relevant, we must be ready for change, and this is best done through adequate capacity enhancement. We must challenge ourselves to do the same thing in different ways that will produce the desired best results.,“

The Permanent Secretary, Office of Physical Planning, Oluwole Sotire, described the visit of NITP as timely as it came at the time when the office was in the process of completing the review of Alimosho Model City Plan, which is currently at the public display stage, while the preparation of the Lagos Island Model City Plan would soon reach the final stakeholders’ meeting stage.