Kogi Town Planners Urge Government to Prioritise Inclusive Urban Planning, Affordable Housing

The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Kogi State Chapter, has called on governments at all levels to prioritise inclusive urban planning, sustainable housing development and people-centred urban regeneration to address growing urban challenges.

The Kogi State Chairman of the Institute, Tpl. Sani Daniel, made the call on Saturday in a statement commemorating the 2026 World Cities Day, celebrated annually on October 31, with the theme, “Regenerating the City: Adequate Housing for All.”

Our Kogi State Correspondent, reports that Daniel said the occasion provided an opportunity to reflect on the challenges confronting cities and settlements, particularly inadequate housing, unplanned urban expansion, infrastructure deficits, environmental degradation and the growing vulnerability of urban populations.

He cited United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) figures indicating that up to 3.4 billion people lack adequate housing, while more than 1.1 billion live in informal settlements and slums, stressing the urgent need for governments to adopt sustainable and inclusive urban development policies.

On Kogi State's urban development challenges, the NITP chairman noted that population growth, rural-urban migration, industrialisation and increasing commercial activities had placed growing pressure on land, housing and infrastructure.

He identified Lokoja, the state capital, alongside Anyigba, Okene, Kabba, Ankpa, Ajaokuta and Obajana, as urban centres experiencing increasing development pressures. These, he said, had contributed to the proliferation of unplanned settlements, inadequate and unaffordable housing, encroachment on road setbacks and drainage channels, poor waste management and development in environmentally sensitive locations.

The institute maintained that urban regeneration should go beyond demolition, road construction and physical beautification to include infrastructure upgrades, housing rehabilitation, environmental improvement, economic revitalisation and the provision of essential services. It also emphasised the need to protect vulnerable residents, minimise displacement and promote sustainable livelihoods.

Consequently, the NITP called on the Kogi State Government to prioritise the preparation, review and implementation of urban master plans for Lokoja and other rapidly growing towns. It also advocated comprehensive urban renewal programmes, affordable housing policies, stronger development control mechanisms and adequate institutional support for physical planning agencies.

The institute further urged the government to integrate climate resilience and environmental sustainability into urban development policies through improved drainage, flood-risk management, erosion control, waste management and the protection of environmentally sensitive areas, particularly Mount Patti. It also called for greater community participation and stronger partnerships among government institutions, professional bodies, academic institutions and private developers.

Reaffirming its commitment to sustainable urban development, the institute stressed the importance of involving qualified and registered town planners in the formulation, implementation and evaluation of urban policies and projects. It urged government ministries, departments, agencies, local councils and private developers to recognise physical planning as a critical tool for orderly development, infrastructure coordination and environmental protection.

×