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Town Planners Task Benue Govt On Regional Devt, Master Plans
By David Torough, Abuja
The President, Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Dr. Chime Ogbonna, has urged the Benue State Government to urgently undertake a comprehensive regional development plan and master plans to begin implementing long-overdue urban planning policies across the state.
He made the call on Wednesday in Makurdi during the opening ceremony of the 26th Mandatory Continuing Professional Development Programme (MCPDP), hosted by the NITP in conjunction with the Town Planners Registration Council of Nigeria (TOPREC).
Addressing town planning professionals from across the country, Dr. Ogbonna decried the glaring shortfall of town planners in Benue and the administrative confusion surrounding physical planning in the state.
“From what we saw during the town hall meeting, there’s a dangerous absence of coordinated planning,” he said. “The Benue State Government needs to develop and implement a regional plan for the entire state and establish master plans for all urban areas.”
He warned that without deliberate planning, even small settlements in Benue state, which are bound to grow into urban areas will culminate into chaotic development. “Planning is not just for Makurdi. Every settlement, no matter how small, deserves a guide for growth,” he emphasized.
Dr. Ogbonna also advocated for the full implementation of Nigeria’s 1992 Urban and Regional Planning Law, saying it is the only way to ensure equitable and sustainable development across Benue’s urban and rural areas.
In a keynote address delivered on behalf of the President of TOPREC, Isyaku Muhtar Kura, the council’s representative, Tpl Prof. Timothy Gyuse, emphasized the need for innovation in tackling emerging urban planning challenges.
He described the MCPDP not just as a statutory event but also a platform to equip planners with modern tools, strategies, and collaborative approaches for building resilient communities.
“This training must go beyond routine. It’s a call to prepare for a future where sustainable cities become the norm,” he said.
The program has been billed to take place this year in three venues namely: Osogbo, Awka, and Makurdi. Osogbo and Awka have already hosted the programme while Makurdi is now hosting the 3rd and final leg of the programme.
Declaring the event open, Governor Hyacinth Alia, represented by the Director-General of Benue Geographic Information Service (BenGIS), Prof. Daniel Amine, welcomed the dialogue and promised government action on the planners’ recommendations.
“If you don’t plan, you will plan to fail,” Prof. Amine asserted. “This workshop has raised critical issues. We will expect formal communication from your institute, and we shall present it to the governor for prompt action.”
Prof. Amine praised Governor Alia’s commitment to urban development, noting that three senior staff of the BenGIS are certified town planners.
However, he cautioned against unregulated construction in the state. “If we allow people to build wherever they want, one day you may not even be able to drive out of your home,” he warned.
Amine also challenged NITP and TOPREC to hold their members accountable, especially those who contribute to planning irregularities. “Your institute must be ready to sanction planners who cause confusion,” he added.
In his remarks, the chairman of the MCPDP planning committee, Dr. Osunsanmi Gbolabo, expressed gratitude to participants and reiterated the historical importance of the training.
He said the MCPDP, now in its 26th year, has evolved to meet the dynamic demands of the profession. “We are not just shaping spaces; we are shaping futures,” he said, highlighting new syndicate sessions and smart training methods introduced to enhance the learning experience.
Several other speakers took the stage, including Dr. Jesse Nor, NITP’s National Public Relations Secretary, emphasized that the MCPDP is a vital platform to sharpen skills and improve planning outcomes in Nigeria’s growing cities.
“For this year, Makurdi was chosen among the other three venues to host the program. The Makurdi venue is thus the last leg of the program for the year.
Indeed, the MCPDP is a gathering of city planners to explore new frontiers of knowledge, training, and skill development, and how all of these influence planning practice and with the overarching aim of developing our towns, regions and cities in a sustainable manner”, he stated.
A highlight of the event was a paper presented by by Dr Osunsanmi Ogbolabo, on behalf of Prof. Ayo Olajuyigbe, of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, who traced the origins of town planning from ancient civilizations to contemporary practices. He stressed the need for financial and political will to enforce master plans, pointing to widespread violations due to weak implementation and institutional gaps.
In another presentation, Tpl Patrick Nyame, on behalf of Dr. Daniel Adamu from Nasarawa State University, advocated for strategic synergy between governments, ministries, private sectors, and non-state actors.
“Collaboration is not weakness; it’s wisdom. Government alone cannot achieve the level of development we seek,” he said.
The MCPDP, which began with a town hall meeting on Tuesday, will run through Thursday, featuring further presentations and roundtable discussions aimed at addressing Nigeria’s growing planning concerns and generating policy-focused solutions for sustainable development.
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The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) has urged policymakers to prioritise targeted interventions to address uneasiness around cost of living to ensure Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth translated into real improvements in citizens’ welfare.
The Founder, CPPE, Dr.
Muda Yusuf, gave the advice on Tuesday in Lagos in reaction to the country’s third quarter GDP report which grew by 3. 98 per cent.Yusuf noted that though the report showed slight moderation from the 4.3 per cent growth in the second quarter.
However, data confirms the economy remains firmly on a path of steady recovery and consolidation.
Yusuf said the performance highlighted the positive impact of ongoing economic reforms, especially in stabilising the exchange rate, moderating inflation, improving fiscal conditions and gradually restoring investors’ confidence.
According to him, these macroeconomic gains have strengthened business sentiment and supported activity across key sectors of the economy.
He, however, noted that in spite of improving fundamentals, the cost-of-living crisis remains a concern.
Yusuf said while disinflation was underway and prices of some food items and manufactured products were easing, the social outcomes of economic reforms continued to weigh on households.
“It is, therefore, imperative for policymaking to prioritise targeted interventions to address the uneasiness around cost of living and ensure that GDP growth and macroeconomic stability translate into real improvements in citizens’ welfare—particularly for vulnerable groups,” he said.
Yusuf said to consolidate the gains recorded in Q3 and unlock stronger, more inclusive growth, certain policy interventions were critical.
He emphasised the need to reduce structural bottlenecks, mitigate the cost of the living crisis, strengthen agricultural productivity, rebuild manufacturing competitiveness and address housing affordability.
Yusuf also called for increased funding for social sectors such as health and education, enhancement of non-oil exports, stabilised oil output and security of critical infrastructure.
He reaffirmed that targeted policies to ease cost-of-living pressures was crucial to making the reform process inclusive.
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Reps Order Forensic Audit of NMDPRA over Alleged Mismanagement of Gas Infrastructure Fund
By Ubong Ukpong, Abuja
Public Accounts Committee (PAC), of the House of Representatives, on Monday, ordered a forensic audit of theMidstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), over the alleged mismanagement of the Fund’s operations from 2021 to date.
The Committee Chaired by Representative Bamidele Salam on Monday made the decision after a motion, titled “Motion on the Urgent Need to Investigate Misapplication and Mismanagement of Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) from Year 2021 to Date in Contravention of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021,” was moved by Hon. Cyriacus Umeha and seconded by Hon. Kafilat Ogbara.The Committee noted that Section 52(1) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 established the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Development Fund, stating that its utilisation must be subjected to appropriation by the National Assembly.It further observed that Section 52(7a) stipulates that the fund should be financed through 0.5 percent of the wholesale price of petroleum products and natural gas sold in Nigeria, collected from wholesale customers in addition to levies outlined in Section 47(2)(c) of the Act.Lawmakers also drew attention to Sections 52(8) and (9) of the Act, which mandate the NMDPRA to ensure the prompt collection of all such sums into the Fund’s account within 21 days of the sale of petroleum products and natural gas in the country.The Committee highlighted that Order 20, Rule 6(5) of the House Standing Orders (11th Edition) empowers the Public Accounts Committee to investigate loss of public revenue, non-remittance of fees, and violations of financial laws in the administration of public funds.However, concerns were raised after the Public Accounts Committee, in a letter dated July 21, 2025, requested the NMDPRA to submit relevant information on the administration and utilization of the Fund and to appear before the Committee on August 12, 2025.According to the motion, the Authority neither responded to the request nor honoured the invitation.The Committee explained that it issued a final reminder on August 26, 2025, but the NMDPRA still failed to comply, raising further suspicion about the management of the fund.Lawmakers expressed alarm that several wholesale customers had defaulted in paying the mandatory 0.5 percent levy, despite Section 52(9) empowering the Authority to set regulations for late or non-payment.They also cited serious allegations of due process violations, disregard for financial regulations, and the absence of audit reports on the fund since its establishment.In response, the House resolved to mandate the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation to conduct a comprehensive forensic audit of all funds collected by the NMDPRA since 2021.The Committee said the audit is expected to uncover the extent of alleged mismanagement, misappropriation, and fraudulent diversion of funds, as well as identify wholesale customers who failed to remit the required levy.PAC ordered the Auditor-General to report back to the Committee within 60 days.
From Ene Asuquo, Calabar
A youth leader in Effi, Okuni community in Ikom local government area of Cross River State, Alobi Ndifon has asked Executive Director Rainforest Resource and Development Center (RRDC), Prince Odey Oyama, to tender payment evidence for N40m compensation money that he allegedly collected from the Cross River State Government for superhighway on behalf of the community.
Ndifon made the accusation during an interactive session with our reporter in Calabar yesterdayHe accused Oyama of lacking the moral justification to accuse Okim, who is their community legal Adviser of not being transparent, as Oyama himself is not transparent accusing him of causing divisions within the community. He urged Oyama to stop spreading malicious propaganda against the Okim, accusing Oyama of fostering divisive tendencies rather than unity in the community.He said that Oyama’s claim of a secret agreement between Okim and Chinese nationals has been described as “totally unfounded” and lacking evidence to back his claims.Ndifon demanded that Oyama produce evidence to support his claims or retract his statements, saying that the allegations are damaging to Okim’s reputation.He accused Oyama of prioritizing his selfish interests over the well-being of the community, causing harm to the community’s unity and progress.Ndifon stated that Oyama’s actions are motivated by a desire to destroy Okim’s reputation and advance his own interests, rather than working towards the betterment of the Olulumo Community.Ndifon demanded that Oyama produce evidence to support his claims or retract his statements, saying that the allegations are damaging to Okim’s reputation.He accused Oyama of prioritizing his selfish interests over the well-being of the community, causing harm to the community’s unity and progress.Efforts to get Oyama to react on the issue failed as text messages and telephone calls put across to him after a failed attempt to speak with him, yielded no results as Oyama neither replied to the text message or replied to the telephone even when his phone ran several times.
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