Abuja: Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter has called for urgent action to halt the loss of green spaces in the FCT and enforce strict adherence to the Abuja Master Plan. NITP Chairman in the FCT, Ms. Queen Phillips, raised the alarm in Abuja on Wednesday, during the 2026 Town Planners Day, with the theme, ‘From Garden City to Concrete Jungle: Planning Livable Communities’.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Phillips explained that the theme responds to growing public outrage over non-adherence to planning standards and the steady disappearance of green areas. She noted that the event offered a platform for stakeholders to examine challenges confronting sustainable development in the FCT and craft practical solutions to preserve its environmental assets.
Ms. Phillips emphasized the importance of the theme, stating that it provides an opportunity for stakeholders to reflect on the challenges confronting the sustainable development of the FCT. She stressed the need for collective examination of practical solutions for preserving environmental assets and ensuring the creation of livable communities. The FCT Chapter of the institute has shown its commitment to addressing these concerns by setting up committees to investigate planning challenges triggered by intense development pressure.
Phillips mentioned that reports from these committees are forwarded to the national body for action, and any infractions observed are reported to the Town Planners Registration Council of Nigeria (TOPREC). She underscored the importance of professional standards, ethical practice, and regulatory compliance for orderly development.
Ms. Zaliha’u Ahmed, who chaired the event, reminded participants that the Abuja Master Plan was originally designed around a ‘garden city’ concept. She expressed concern over the conversion of public and institutional lands into private developments, citing violations such as the felling of mature trees and the redesign of lands surrounding Jabi Lake Park.
Ahmed warned that these actions threaten the city’s identity and core plan, urging professional bodies to publish evidence-based positions on major violations, protect whistleblowers, and sanction members who facilitate illegal approvals.
Prof. Laraba Rikko of the University of Jos delivered the keynote address, describing Abuja’s shift toward a ‘concrete jungle’ as an experiential crisis in urban planning. Rikko acknowledged public skepticism about the existence of town planners in the city, attributing this perception to a lack of visible planning impacts. She urged professionals to demonstrate greater integrity and diligence.
Rikko highlighted the tension between visionary planning and uncontrolled urban expansion, emphasizing the need for professionals to take full accountability. She lamented the fragmentation and degradation of ecological infrastructures, pointing to unapproved building plans, weak enforcement, political interference, and corruption as core drivers of the decay.