The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Lagos Chapter, has called for stricter enforcement of planning standards and stronger collaboration among stakeholders to ensure sustainable urban growth, attract investment, and improve the quality of life for residents.
The call was made at the chapter’s yearly general meeting in Lagos, where experts stressed the urgency of balancing the city’s rapid population growth with sustainable infrastructure development.
Lead Partner at TIM & JAY Consults, Dr Johnson Ajisafe, delivering a keynote on “Town Planning and Investment Opportunities in Lagos State”, said Lagos remains Nigeria’s industrial hub and gateway to international trade, offering vast commercial, financial, and real estate opportunities. However, he warned that weak enforcement of planning laws, informal settlements, and poor infrastructure continue to undermine its livability and attractiveness to investors.
“Lagos is the centre of excellence, but we are facing growth without development. Over 70 per cent of workers live in informal settlements. Buildings spring up overnight without approvals, transportation is overstretched, and land is under immense pressure,” he said. “If we must transform Lagos into the Dubai or Qatar of Africa, we must adhere to planning standards, deploy technology, and align with government policies.”
Ajisafe noted that Lagos’ ports, financial districts, and industrial clusters remain strong magnets for capital inflows but stressed the need for stricter land-use regulation, stronger infrastructure, and collaboration between planners, government, and the private sector.
Chairman of the Lagos Chapter of NITP, Oladele Akindele, described the past year as both “challenging and fruitful,” citing progress on projects such as the ongoing construction of its permanent secretariat, Joseph Aogbemi House.
He thanked government agencies and professional colleagues for their support and reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to advancing sustainable urban planning.
In his goodwill message, NITP President, Dr Ogbonna Chime, lauded the Lagos Chapter for its leadership, describing it as “a beacon of professional practice and a reference point for other chapters.” He urged members to continue driving excellence and innovation in physical planning nationwide.
The Chairperson of the Association of Women Town Planners in Nigeria (AWTPN), represented by the Lagos Chairperson, Mrs Yemisi Alaka, pledged support for building “livable, resilient, and inclusive cities.”
The President of the Association of Town Planning Consultants of Nigeria (ATOPCON), Hakeem Badejo, commended the theme of the meeting, calling it “timely and strategic” for the growth of the profession.
