Ogun town planners raise alarm over uncoordinated development

The Chairman of the Association of Town Planning Consultants of Nigeria, ATOPCON, Ogun State Branch, TPL Rauf Adebanjo, has expressed concern over the uncoordinated physical development along major growth corridors in Ogun State. This warning comes amid the state's rapid urbanization and industrial expansion. According to Adebanjo, while the state is experiencing significant growth, it is currently facing several challenges, such as infrastructure, housing, transportation, environmental management, land-use conversion, and development control.

These issues must be addressed promptly to ensure orderly and sustainable development in the region.

Adebanjo emphasized the importance of continuous professional development for town planning consultants, urging them to embrace modern planning tools like Geographic Information Systems (GIS), digital mapping, data-driven planning, and climate-resilient approaches. He also called for heightened advocacy on the consequences of uncoordinated physical development, stating that the association is dedicated to strengthening its members' professional capacity and fostering collaboration with government and other stakeholders to remain relevant in the state's development process.

The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, TPL Olatunji Odunlami, acknowledged the government's commitment to ensuring that town planning consultants' expertise remains vital in Ogun State's development. He announced that the state has been actively re-engineering its processes to tackle challenges arising from rapid industrialization.

Recent updates include the review of the 2022 Physical Planning and Development Law, the unveiling of the 2025 editions, and the introduction of the Ogun State Building and Construction Code 2025. This new regulation, the first of its kind in Nigeria, aims to promote general planning input, enhance the profession's recognition, and encourage firm-based practice.

Former Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development in Lagos, TPL Idris Salako, delivered a lecture titled “Tendering and Bidding for Planning Jobs and Collaboration among Member Firms.” He urged town planning consultants to embrace collaboration for enhanced professional efficiency and quality of delivery. Salako stressed the importance of collaboration over mere cooperation, noting that the latter involves accepting things as presented, while collaboration requires mutual respect for each professional's input.

He cautioned against entering partnerships without thoroughly assessing potential collaborators to protect the integrity of the profession.