The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Kogi State Chapter, has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with the Kogi State Town Planning and Development Board (KSTPDB) to promote sustainable physical planning and orderly urban development across the state.
This was contained in a statement issued to journalists on Thursday by the Public Relations Secretary of the NITP Kogi State Chapter, Deborah Oshamehin. According to the statement, the Chapter’s leadership paid a courtesy visit to the General Manager and management of the Board as part of efforts to foster stronger institutional cooperation and advance professional town planning practice.
Leading the delegation, the Chairman of the Chapter, Tpl. Sani Daniel, FNITP, formally introduced the newly elected Executive Committee and reaffirmed the Institute’s readiness to partner with the Board in promoting best practices in physical planning. He commended the Board for its commitment to development control, planning administration, urban renewal initiatives and sustainable urban development despite prevailing challenges. Daniel noted that closer collaboration between both institutions would strengthen planning administration, improve compliance with planning regulations and facilitate sustainable urban and rural development across Kogi State.
The Chapter also pledged its support in critical areas, including continuous professional development, the preparation and review of physical development plans, urban renewal programmes, planning research, policy formulation, public enlightenment on planning regulations and the deployment of modern planning technologies such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and digital planning approval systems.
Responding, the General Manager of the Kogi State Town Planning and Development Board expressed appreciation for the visit and praised the proactive leadership of the NITP Kogi State Chapter. He highlighted ongoing reforms within the Board, including the review of the state’s planning laws, the development of operational guidelines, the restructuring of key departments and efforts to commence urban renewal projects, particularly in Kabawa, Lokoja. He reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to sustaining a productive working relationship with the Institute in pursuit of efficient physical planning and improved service delivery.
A major highlight of the visit was an interactive session with retired town planners who previously served the Board. The retirees shared institutional knowledge and professional experiences, stressing the need to review the Lokoja Master Plan, strengthen development control mechanisms, revive low-cost housing programmes, protect public open spaces and parks, enforce planning standards, promote environmental sustainability and preserve archival planning records to support future urban renewal initiatives. They also commended the Board for engaging experienced professionals in planning assignments and urged both serving and retired officers to continue upholding the ethics and integrity of the profession.
The meeting ended with both the NITP Kogi State Chapter and the Kogi State Town Planning and Development Board reaffirming their commitment to deeper collaboration in advancing orderly physical planning, sustainable urban development and improved service delivery across Kogi State.
