Northern Town Planners Warn of Professional Extinction

Chairman of the Northern Town Planners’ Forum, Barnabas Atiyaye, has issued a stern warning that the planning profession in Northern Nigeria risks extinction if practitioners continue to neglect their responsibilities and allow non-professionals to dominate the space. Speaking during the 2nd Regional Conference of the Forum in Kaduna, Atiyaye described the situation as dire and […]

Chairman of the Northern Town Planners’ Forum, Barnabas Atiyaye, has issued a stern warning that the planning profession in Northern Nigeria risks extinction if practitioners continue to neglect their responsibilities and allow non-professionals to dominate the space.

Speaking during the 2nd Regional Conference of the Forum in Kaduna, Atiyaye described the situation as dire and called on planners to reclaim their relevance in national development.

“Planning is the most noble profession of our time,” Atiyaye stated. “But it is pathetic that many planners have not realized their potential. Our inaction, timidity, and compromising attitudes have caused the public to question our identity and purpose.”

He lamented the growing tendency of state governments to implement physical developments without consulting professional planners, resulting in urban chaos and environmental degradation.

“Governments are undertaking developments without professional input, plunging towns into planlessness. Meanwhile, trained planners are left jobless as unqualified persons take our place,” he said.

Atiyaye challenged planners to renew their commitment by strengthening professional participation, upskilling, and advocating for recognition at government levels.

“We must polish, upgrade, and upscale our capabilities. We need aggressive capacity building, attend meetings, pay our dues, and engage in advocacy,” he emphasized.

According to the chairman, internal issues such as lack of mentorship and poor engagement by younger professionals are also contributing to the decline. “Are we not enemies of ourselves when our elders refuse to mentor, and the young ones refuse to be mentored? We must act differently if we want to be relevant,” he charged.

One major task yet to be achieved by the Forum, Atiyaye revealed, is gaining access to the Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF) to advocate for the establishment of Urban and Regional Development Boards in all northern states.

He also called for the reactivation of dormant state chapters, the elevation of observer states to full chapter status, and the strengthening of various planning wings such as the Young Planners Forum and Association of Women Town Planners.

Addressing the challenges of vast distances, insecurity, and lack of state commitment, Atiyaye maintained that the profession must evolve to meet the pressing needs of society.

Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, represented by Permanent Secretary Alhaji Sanusi Bello, noted that Northern Nigeria requires the expertise of planners to address its development challenges.

He said the services of planners are essential to moving Northern Nigeria forward, commending the Forum for organizing the conference.

2nd Vice Chairman of the Forum, Nuhu Ajoge, also urged members to unite behind the leadership. “Let us continue to support the forum and drive it toward lasting impact,” he said.