The Kogi State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting sustainable physical planning and efficient land administration through stronger collaboration with the Kogi State Bureau of Lands.
The commitment was made during a courtesy visit by the leadership of the Institute, led by the State Chairman, Tpl. Sani Daniel, to the Director General of the Kogi State Bureau of Lands, Tpl. Salihu-Otaru Kehinde Augustine, as part of the Chapter’s strategic stakeholder engagement programme.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Chapter’s Public Relations Secretary, Deborah Oshamehin, the Chairman congratulated the Director General on his appointment and commended the Bureau for its pivotal role in land administration and the orderly physical development of Kogi State. He reiterated the Institute’s readiness to support government policies and programmes aimed at creating planned, safe, resilient and sustainable human settlements.
Daniel noted that effective land administration and professional physical planning are complementary pillars of sustainable development. He advocated closer collaboration between the Bureau and the Institute in development planning, layout design, urban renewal, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), digital land management, development control, policy formulation, professional capacity building and public enlightenment on responsible land use. He added that the Institute is prepared to provide technical advisory services and professional expertise to enhance land management, reduce land disputes, improve investor confidence and support the state’s urban development agenda.
Responding, the Director General, Tpl. Salihu-Otaru Kehinde Augustine, appreciated the visit and acknowledged the vital contributions of town planners to sustainable development. He reaffirmed the Bureau’s commitment to working closely with the Institute to strengthen professional standards, improve land administration processes and ensure that physical development across the state complies with approved planning regulations. According to him, greater collaboration between both institutions will promote orderly urban growth, improve service delivery and support the Kogi State Government’s vision of building modern, functional and economically vibrant cities and communities.
The meeting also explored opportunities for joint technical engagements, policy dialogue, professional training, public awareness campaigns and other collaborative initiatives aimed at strengthening physical planning administration and improving the quality of the built environment across Kogi State. The visit forms part of the Chapter’s broader engagement with key government institutions and strategic stakeholders to promote professionalism, deepen institutional collaboration and drive sustainable urban development across the state.
