Urban planning professionals and development stakeholders have made a bold call for action at the unveiling of the Nathaniel Atebije Foundation for Planning Advocacy, coinciding with the 70th birthday of renowned urban planner, Tpl. Nathaniel Atebije.
Held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, stakeholders at the event called for renewed advocacy and shared commitment to overhaul Nigeria’s faltering urban development systems.
The launch of the foundation is expected to drive strategic advocacy, raise public awareness, and support policies that foster livable, sustainable cities.
Speaking during the launch, the Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Prof. Adamu Ahmed, provided a philosophical lens, asserting that planning is not merely technical, it is spiritual. “We are caretakers of the environment, not owners. Planners must resist political and corporate pressures that sacrifice people and the planet for profit,” he declared.
Chairman of the occasion, John Abuh, did not mince words as he decried the state of Nigeria’s urban infrastructure. He linked the decline to a lack of political will and disconnect between leadership and professional town planners. “We’ve had too many missed opportunities. It’s time to return to real planning,” he asserted.
Current NITP President, Dr. Ogbonna Chime, reinforced this urgency, calling for immediate implementation of the Urban and Regional Planning Law. He emphasized that without the legal framework fully operational, Nigeria would continue to experience chaotic city growth, congestion, and poor housing outcomes.
REDAN President, Prince Akintoye Adeoye, described the foundation as a crucial step forward in urban reform. “This is more than a foundation, it is a movement. Housing is a right, and through advocacy and partnerships, we can create inclusive, regulated, and sustainable urban spaces,” he stated.
Tpl. Nathaniel Atebije, speaking passionately at the launch of the foundation, outlined the organization’s mission: to correct planning irregularities, educate the public, and provide a platform for young planners through training and opportunities. “We can no longer afford to plan by instinct. We must institutionalize advocacy, ethics, and research,” he said.
The Foundation for Planning Advocacy therefore sets out to bridge the gap between policy and practice, promote public engagement in physical planning matters, and contribute significantly to creating better-planned cities and communities in Nigeria. By fostering collaboration, research, and awareness, the Foundation will serve as a catalyst for reforming Nigeria’s physical planning landscape. It aims to strengthen urban planning laws and enforcement by encouraging governments to strictly implement existing planning laws and ensure that new developments follow approved master plans.
Atebije notes that the Foundation also hopes to facilitate integrated transport and infrastructure development by expanding road networks, investing in public transport, and promoting non-motorized transport such as pedestrian-friendly streets to improve mobility.
The Chairman of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, Tpl. Toyin Ayinde and his Vice, Festus Adebayo say that it will also promote slum upgrading and affordable housing initiatives by advocating for low-cost housing with proper amenities that will reduce the growth of informal settlements.
In addition, they said the Foundation will support environmental sustainability measures by achieving green city initiatives, waste recycling programs, and flood prevention strategies while focusing on ensuring public participation in planning by engaging local communities in decision-making and ensuring that urban plans align with people’s needs.
The event’s message was clear that Nigeria stands at a crossroads and the implementation of planning laws and institutional support like the Atebije Foundation may be the last chance to save its cities from further decline.
Tpl. Atebije’s 70th birthday did not just serve as a personal milestone but was a national awakening, ushering in a new era of organized urban development rooted in ethics, vision, and lasting impact.
