NITP Inaugurates Committee to Enforce Planning Laws

In a bold step toward strengthening Nigeria’s urban and regional planning framework, the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) has inaugurated a committee to organize a high-level colloquium focused on the implementation of the 1992 Urban and Regional Planning (URP) Law, CAP 138, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The move, announced by the NITP National President, Dr. Chime Ogbonna, underscores the Institute’s commitment to promoting sustainable development, land use planning, and physical infrastructure regulation across the country. The colloquium is slated to take place in Abuja this October as part of the NITP’s national and international conference.


For over three decades, Nigeria has grappled with weak enforcement of urban and regional planning laws, contributing to widespread building collapses, chaotic urban development, flooding, and environmental degradation. Dr. Ogbonna emphasized that the lack of legal implementation of the 1992 URP Law has left planning efforts without the necessary legal backing.

“Operating without a legal framework is like walking in the dark. The 1992 URP Law provides a compass, structure, and guidance for physical planning administration in Nigeria. We need to give life to this law by ensuring it is implemented at all levels of governance,” Ogbonna said during the inauguration ceremony held on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.


The planned colloquium will bring together a wide array of stakeholders from across the built environment, including federal and state lawmakers, ministers, directors of planning agencies, professional bodies, governors, local government chairpersons, community-based organisations, and NGOs.

According to the NITP, this gathering will provide a platform for robust engagement, policy discussions, and strategic collaborations to domesticate and implement the URP law across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The NITP says the conference is part of a broader advocacy and policy engagement initiative aimed at addressing urban planning challenges and promoting orderly, resilient cities in line with global best practices and Nigeria’s developmental goals.


The 1992 URP Law was established to serve as a comprehensive legal framework for urban planning and development control in Nigeria. It outlines roles and responsibilities for federal, state, and local governments in managing land use and implementing spatial planning systems. However, decades after its passage, the law remains largely unimplemented in several states.

The lack of a coordinated planning framework has led to disjointed developments and undermined efforts to build inclusive, smart cities. As climate change, population growth, and rural-urban migration intensify, the need for structured urban planning has become even more urgent.

Dr. Ogbonna warned that unless the planning law is implemented, the nation risks continued environmental crises and unplanned growth. “We cannot continue with business as usual. The colloquium is our first step toward a nationally coordinated push for implementation,” he added.


To ensure lasting change, the NITP is pushing for collaboration with lawmakers, legal experts, and political leaders. The judiciary, Nigerian Bar Association, and legal advocacy groups will also be engaged to drive awareness of the legal necessity and benefits of enforcing the URP Law.

“This is not just a professional agenda—it’s a national development priority. We want every state in Nigeria to align with the URP Law to promote consistency and accountability in physical planning,” Ogbonna stated.


As Nigeria urbanizes rapidly—with over half its population now living in urban areas—planning experts say enforcing planning laws could help address critical issues such as informal settlements, housing deficits, infrastructure gaps, and traffic congestion.

The NITP is also calling for the establishment of dedicated physical planning ministries across states and the full integration of professional town planners in government decision-making processes.


With the upcoming colloquium and the inauguration of the implementation committee, the NITP is setting the tone for a new era of structured urban development in Nigeria. The challenge, however, lies in translating advocacy into legislative action and real-world change.

All eyes are now on October’s colloquium, which is expected to be a watershed moment for town planning and urban policy reform in Nigeria