A former Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Leke Oduwaye, has described town planners as “prophets” of housing development, emphasizing that effective planning can completely eliminate the need for demolitions.
Prof. Oduwaye made this known during the 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Ogun State Chapter, held in Abeokuta on Wednesday.
Speaking on the event’s theme, “Conflicting Rationality: The Challenge of Urban and Physical Development in Nigeria,” the scholar explained that the essence of town and urban planning is to foresee and organize settlements before unregulated growth sets in.
He cautioned that Ogun State risks facing uncoordinated and chaotic development if comprehensive settlement planning is not urgently implemented.
“Planners are like prophets. They visualize how settlements should evolve because they possess the knowledge, theory, and legislation that guide development,” he said.
Oduwaye further advised that the state government should prioritize settlement planning in its annual budget.
“Ogun is growing rapidly, and if we fail to plan, we risk losing a lot. It doesn’t cost much to plan. The government can allocate at least one town per senatorial district yearly for master plan development,” he suggested.
The urban planning expert identified political interference, insufficient funding, quackery, and ethnic bias as key challenges hindering proper development. He also proposed introducing a “one-desk system” in planning offices to simplify procedures, adopting land swaps to fund consultancy, and creating bankable urban master plans.
Meanwhile, the Ogun State NITP Chairman, Tpl. Adefela Sogbesan, urged the public to view town planners more positively rather than associating them with demolitions.
“People believe planners are demolition agents, but that’s not true. With proper professional guidance, buildings will be erected in the right locations, and demolitions will become unnecessary,” Sogbesan said.
Also speaking, the state Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Tpl. Olatunji Odunlami, disclosed that the state government is currently reviewing housing laws to align with modern realities and protect citizens’ investments.
Represented by John Olutunde, the commissioner commended the institute and assured them of the state’s continued partnership in promoting orderly development.
