Experts Warn Ogun of Chaotic Urban Growth
Urban development experts have warned that Ogun State risks facing chaotic and uncoordinated growth if comprehensive planning measures are not put in place immediately. They spoke during the 2025 Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Ogun State chapter, held in Abeokuta. The event, themed “Conflicting Rationality: The Challenge of Urban […]
Urban development experts have warned that Ogun State risks facing chaotic and uncoordinated growth if comprehensive planning measures are not put in place immediately.
They spoke during the 2025 Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Ogun State chapter, held in Abeokuta. The event, themed “Conflicting Rationality: The Challenge of Urban and Physical Development in Nigeria,” brought together planning professionals and government officials to address the of state rapid urban expansion.
Speaking at the event, Professor Leke Oduwaye, former Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Sciences at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), described town planners as “prophets” of housing development.
He stressed that their role is to project and guide the future of urban settlements using established knowledge and legal frameworks.
“Ogun State is developing very fast, and if we don’t plan our settlements, we might be losing a lot,” he said. “It doesn’t really cost much to plan. The government can simply include at least one town per senatorial district in its annual budget for master plan development.”
Oduwaye identified several issues contributing to conflicts in urban development, including political interference, lack of funding, unqualified practitioners (quackery), and ethnic influences.
He recommended reforms such as introducing a “one-desk system” to streamline planning processes, using land swaps to fund planning consultancy, and developing bankable urban master plans.
Also speaking, Chairman of the NITP Ogun State chapter, Tpl. Adefela Sogbesan, urged the public to stop viewing town planners as mere demolition agents. He emphasized that with proper professional guidance, buildings would be constructed in appropriate locations from the start, reducing the need for demolitions.
“People think planners only demolish buildings. That’s not who we are,” he said. “With professional advice, there will be no need for demolition because buildings won’t be erected where they shouldn’t be.”
The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Tpl. Olatunji Odunlami, represented by John Olutunde, noted that the state government is currently reviewing its housing laws to reflect current realities and protect property investments.
He commended the planners for their contributions and assured them of ongoing government support.
The event concluded with a call for stronger collaboration between planners, policymakers, and the public to ensure sustainable urban development across Ogun State.