Association of Town Planning Consultants of Nigeria (ATOPCON) has called for proper regulations among professionals in the built environment.
This followed conflicting practice noted among the various related professional in the field of built environment to include architects, town planners, surveyors, engineers, amongst others.
Speaking at the association’s 2017 annual general meeting and election of new executive, held in Lagos, with the theme: “The Challenges of Town Planning/ Urban and Regional Planning in Nigeria”, Lagos state commissioner for Urban and Regional Planning Tpl. Wasiu Anifowoshe said the need for strict regulations among professionals in the built environment was long overdue in order to checkmate issues of overlapping of duties among the related professions, especially on town planning.
He hinted that the Lagos State Executive Council has passed the regulation law of 2010, which was to be considered by the State Assembly.
“We have an existing town planning law of 2010 but unfortunately we are using 2005 regulation law. I now set up a committee which has now reviewed the law; it has been passed by the SEC and other amendments to be made we are making them and they are almost completed once the Assembly resumes sitting it will be considered.”
On masterplan he said: “The last time we had a master plan in Lagos was 2000 but by this time next year we will have a complete master plan of Lagos state. No other state in federation has ever done that.”
In his reaction, Lagos Assembly Chairman House Committee on Urban and Regional Planning, Hon Lanre Makinde (Ifako-Ijaiye II) said enabling legislation for town planners was paramount.
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“The law we have in Lagos is the town planning law of 2010 and it needs regulation to really effect the content of that law and the regulation is what the commissioner has just said that it has been passed by the State Executive Council, which means it now needs the endorsement of the Assembly which we are expecting soon.
“Other related professions are just being over-zealous. Their own core work has not been exhausted yet they are venturing into town planning practice. This is absurd and unethical. Everybody should take their core areas and stop encroaching on their counter-parts areas.”
Also speaking ATOPCON immediate past president, Tpl. Olaide Afolabi said the regulation was needed to be enforced by regulatory body in order to ensure sanity in the built environment, urging other related professional to stick to their core areas, as anything short of this is unethical.
In his acceptance speech, newly elected president Tpl. Idris Salako said the emergence of the new executives was not to honour personality or young professionals, but to symbolize a great moral code – the code of conduct and ethics of the profession which is loved to be practiced.
He pledged to strive with team to change the face of private practice and ATOPCON to be a force to reckon with and for the association to take its rightful place in the built environment.
He added: “We hope to build on the past efforts and giant’s strides of past leaders and our founding fathers as the custodians of the practice arm of the town planning profession for improved practice by member firms. And we will not only be reactive but proactive and will try to open new vistas of opportunity for practice.”
