Tinubu calls on city planners to mitigate the effects of climate change

President Bola Tinubu and Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori have urged urban planners to mitigate the consequences of climate change on people.

They addressed separately at the 54th National Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners on Tuesday in Asaba, urging them to guarantee effective town and city planning.

Tinubu, who was represented by Architect Ahmed Dangiwa, Minister of Housing and Urban Renewal, stated, “I am convinced that effective town planning remains an important tool in our government’s effort to contain and mitigate the challenges of climate change.”

The President went on to say: “Climate change is no longer a distant threat; it is a stark reality that confronts us every year and every day; the rising temperature, the table water patterns and more frequently severe floods around the world have become the norm rather than the exception.”

In an address given by Deputy Governor Monday Onyeme, Governor Oborevwori encouraged town planning officials and regulatory bodies to “ensure strict compliance with town planning and urban development laws to avoid the unpleasant task of demolishing buildings on waterways and drainage channels.”

He emphasized the need of avoiding circumstances in which governments are obliged to remove structures beside waterways and drainage channels, with all of the bad consequences for the economy.

“Our government is fully aware of its responsibilities to Deltans and we are facing them squarely by making our built environment more climate-resistant,” he said.

Earlier, Mr Nathaniel Atebije, National President of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), stated that the conference, which would be hosted at the Asaba Event Centre, will provide a forum to discuss the issues of climate change, flood resilience, and strategies to provide mitigating measures. He emphasized that the scheme would benefit Delta because it is a coastal state.

Atebije urged the state government to actively engage professional town planners in the Ministry of Urban Renewal in the implementation of the state’s master plan for towns and cities.

In response to a question on why the Federal Government is delaying the establishment of the Office of the Town Planner-General, Atebije stated, “Utilization of town planners is insufficient; unfortunately, people do not value them.” Despite the fact that they are insufficient, they are not fully utilized. Previously, the ratio of town planners to people was one to 3,000; currently, the ratio is one to 200,000.”