By Festus Fifen.

As different cities in Nigeria begins to experience the negative effects of globalisation and urbanisation as a result of mass movement of people from rural areas into the urban cities, FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani
Aliyu, has called on members of the Nigeria Institute of Town Planners (NITP) to tackle the attendant multi-dimensional consequences of rapid urbanisation in most cities across the country.

A statement by her Media aide Austin Elemue, Minister made the call in Abuja during the 13th investiture of the Nigeria Institute of Town Planners, FCT Chapter where she also called on the institute to join the Administration in working for improved legislation on physical planning and urban development in support of the regeneration of Nigerian towns and cities.

Represented by the Director, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Tpl. Zalihau Ahmed, the minister  used the occasion to reveal that the Administration is working, and with the support of the African Development Bank (AfDB), to undertake urban improvement projects in eight satellite towns of Jikwoyi, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Dutsen-Alhaji, Abaji, Orozo, Zuba, and Kwali.
Aliyu added that the Administration was committed to providing increased budgetary allocation to support critical infrastructure development outside the city centre, especially roads and bridges, water supply and sanitation, primary healthcare and renewable energy solutions, amongst others.
In her words: “The onus is on us to continue to find solutions to the attendant multi-dimensional consequences of rapid urbanisation as we strive to provide liveable spaces both within and outside urban centres.

“To the FCT Chapter of the NITP, this challenge is even more significant. We are witnessing the evolution of the territory at a breath-taking pace. While we appear to be grappling with finding solutions to the problems of the past, new ones are cropping up almost daily and we must, as a necessity, be in a position to anticipate future problems and seek solutions to them. This is the charge before the members of the Executive.

” The FCT Administration shall be looking forward to working with you to find innovative solutions that guarantee the right development balance between the city centre and the satellite towns and hinterlands. Something must be done urgently to address the challenges of urbanisation especially in the Federal Capital Territory”.

In his inaugural speech, the chairman, Tpl. Mustapha Mubdiyu, assured members of the institute that steps would be taken to digitize all records and processes of the chapter in line with global standard, adding that a website design was already underway.

While thanking the past leaderships of the chapter for laying the foundation on which to build, Mubdiyu further assured that his leadership would embark on capacity building and development for members especially in areas of best practices and standards.

Other areas of focus according to him are improved corporate social responsibility to communities and vulnerable groups within the FCT, improved collaboration with the national body, allied professional bodies in the built environment, the FCT Administration amongst others.