The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, has committed to upgrading informal settlements in Makoko, Lagos, Gishiri, Abuja, and other areas in Kano and Port Harcourt. Minister Muttaqha Darma made the pledge during a meeting with the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) on Friday in Abuja. He described the transformation of slums into dignified, liveable communities as a priority of the current administration. A forthcoming urban development policy will focus on improving living conditions in these settlements, Darma said.
Darma acknowledged that the 1992 Urban and Regional Planning Law has not been fully implemented but affirmed the ministry's intention to review it with input from stakeholders. He invited the NITP to provide professional recommendations for inclusion in the ministry's strategic development plan. The minister also stressed the importance of using indigenous experts, saying the administration is committed to engaging only local consultants in urban planning projects. This, he said, would boost employment, skills transfer, and capacity building in the sector.
About 2,000 individuals have already been trained in built environment skills under ministry programmes, Darma noted. He encouraged professionals to embrace innovation and artificial intelligence, stating that technology would shape future practices without replacing skilled workers. Continuous learning and creative thinking, he added, are essential for relevance in urban development. Darma accepted an invitation to attend the NITP's 60th anniversary event in October.
Dr Ogbonna Chime, National President of the NITP, led the delegation on the courtesy visit. He welcomed the minister and stressed the need for full implementation of the 1992 planning law. Chime also called for increased funding for regulatory agencies, replacement of retired personnel, and stronger institutional support for urban planning in Nigeria.
Darma pushes exclusive use of local consultants while relying on a decades-old planning law that has never been fully applied. The ministry's training of 2,000 people means little if outdated legal frameworks remain unchanged. Upgrading Makoko and Gishiri cannot succeed without first fixing the system meant to guide such projects. Promises of dignity in housing ring hollow when foundational planning laws are ignored.
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