All publications of Rasheed Adeolu Osinowo . ,

A CALL TO PLANNERS FROM ‘MAN AND THE ENVIRONMENT’

The need for land as one of the basic needs of man is pushing-city dwellers to the extreme in Nigeria and other African nations. Due to population expansion; people are beginning to build along; Road Setbacks, Pipelines, Drainages, River Banks etcetera all in the name of survival.According to the United Nations, 55% of the world’s population is living in urban areas, a figure that is anticipated to increase to 68% by 2050 (UN, 2018). This call is apt much so in a city like Lagos with well over 26million inhabitantsin need of shelter amongst other basic needs of life. This is one of the reasons why the government and other stakeholders in the built environment,including urban planners, need to work tirelessly for a sustainable future.

The urban planning profession is futuristic, the reason why every nation that aims to be or is great must take the issue of urban planning seriously; our country should not be an exception. Currently, we have issues with Insecurity, Pipeline Explosion, Transportation, Housing,increase in Slum, City Infrastructure Collapse, Building Collapse, Waste Management, Epileptic Power Supply and presently COVID-19 virus which have killed thousands world over to mention but a few. It is time to act and act fast as there have been accusations and counter-accusation amongst the general populace as to what the role of Urban Planners is and should be in the society. It is time for Urban planners to take the bull by the horn and take charge of the city.As Urban Planning Professionals, we must preserve the sacredness of our environment and heed effectively to the call of man and his environment.

This is a clarion call for us all to walk our talk. Just as all states in the federation have their peculiarity, Lagos is unique and so the solution must be tailored specifically to her needs. The incidence of Sunday 15th March 2020 at Abule-ado which claimed the lives and properties of several individuals in AmuwoOdufin Local Government Area, Lagos State, calls for urgent action towards all;Pipelines, Gas and Water Reticulations in the State and in the Nation at large. As a matter of urgency, the National Body of Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) should call on all State Chapters of the Institute to work with the Federal Government in mapping out areas covered by the pipeline sand observe minimum buffer,among other Town planning measures to prevent future calamities. A process that could be referred to as a ‘Total Land Comprehensive Infrastructure Audit’ (TLCIA). Without prejudice to past efforts; the publication made on the subject matter among others by the National President NITP, in the Guardian Newspaper of Monday, 30th March 2020 is well appreciated. Our people need us, and the environment calls our name. why fold hands when we can make it better. We need to act fast and decisively. This is a clarion call we just must heed!

Thank you.

Tpl Rasheed OSINOWOMNITP, RTP

[email protected]

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