Town planners task A’Ibom State Govt on physical planning law

Town Planning Practitioners in Akwa Ibom State have called on Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel to
consider giving assent to the Urban and Regional Planning Law recently passed by the State
House of Assembly if the state is to make progress in the physical development and
management of our urban and rural settlements.

The call was made by the Representative of Town Planners Registration Council of
Nigeria (TOPREC) in Akwa Ibom State, Tpl. Akpabio Ufot-Akpabio during a one day Seminar
organized by the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, Akwa Ibom State Chapter at Goodluck Boulevard, Uyo.

Speaking on the theme: Urban and Regional Panning Practice in Akwa Ibom State:The Journey So Far; He reminded the State Government on the need to review the existing building
regulations and standards noting that, the dynamics of environmental development as practiced all over the
world has left the state a decade behind. He maintained that an up -to -date planning data in
Urban and Regional Planning Practice was inevitable if the State is to meet up with the pace of
development as witnessed in other climes.

Illustrating the graphical progression of town planners in Akwa Ibom in particular through Skipp presentation, the resource person regretted the dwindling fortunes of town planners in the state and urged them to adhere strictly to the professional ethics and norms of the profession if they hope to break even and earn public
trust in the profession.

The Council Representative bemoaned the unprofessional tendencies of some of its members
through unholy collaboration with quacks in the profession describing such bizarre conduct as corruption and
counterproductive which, according to him must be wiped out of the
profession without further delay.

Tpl. Akpabio who took time to chronicle the historical development of Town Planning Practice
in Nigeria from 1861 to date, said prior to Nigeria Independence, planning was in
the hands of non -professionals under the supervision of foreign technicians noting that, it was
unfortunately placed as an exclusive preserve of the public or civil servants and was regarded as a social service.
The Town Planning expert lauded the Town Planning Registration Council of Nigeria and
Nigerian Institute of Town Planners for their untiring effort in ensuring that, members in the
planning practice were striking a balance between concepts and realization of its lofty goals
and aspirations. He pointed out that following breakthrough recorded in the profession, practitioners in the
field were now seen as professional problem solvers whose expert knowledge, according to
the resource person, have covered a number of fields in addition to quality exhibition of
independent and unbiased study of a given problem to a rational solution.

The resource person listed some of the challenges facing Town Planning in Akwa Ibom State
to include lack of adequate and appropriate information about the settlement and its
inhabitants in Akwa Ibom which he said may have informed low participation of professionals
in planning practice in the State. He also highlighted inadequate land management, non –
computerization of planning and other land related activities as well as mistrust among planners.

Also in the list of the challenges which the resource person enumerated included lack of functional legal and institutional framework which he described as critical to urban and
regional practice in the state and the country at large. Tpl. Ufot-Akpabio also noted weak Planning
Institutions which he said were resultant effects of endogenous and exogenous factors.

On the way forward, Tpl Ufot Akpabio enjoined town planners in the state to be proactive in all spheres of
their operation saying, developing good team spirit with administrators and policy makers in
the state would be of immense importance to the profession and the society.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Practice Committee of the Institute, Tpl. (Dr). Victor Umoren in his
welcome address applauded members of the committee and the institute for working
assiduously to ensure a successful seminar for the members and the public. He called on the participants and
members generally to remain focused and take the lecture with all amount of seriousness for the
purpose of improving planning practice in the state.

In his closing remark, the Chairman of the institute, Akwa Ibom State Chapter, Tpl. (Dr.)
Emmanuel Etuk thanked the resource person for his adepth knowledge and articulation in
passing the message through. He urged members to see themselves as standard bearers and
adhere strictly to the provisions of the law establishing the profession.

The resource person concluded the seminar by
urging planners in the State to be inherently forward – looking and imaginative in their
approach to the practice.