NITP warns members against approving defective building plans to avert collapse

By Ene Ene, Calabar

The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, NITP, has warned its members against approving defective building plans.The warnings were handed down as a result of the recent building collapse across the Country

Giving the warning in Calabar weekend during the Eastern Zonal Assembly meeting of the Institute, First National Vice President of the Institute, Dr Ogbonna chime said town planners are the final authority in approving building plans and when such buildings collapse, those who signed the approval for such edifices are all culpable.

“Poor physical planning are disasters both to buildings, residential areas and industrial sites and failure to raise alarm when defective plans are presented for approval, the town planner who is the one who the final takes the final decision if he goes ahead to approve such defective plans, when such plans fail and buildings collapse, he is to also to be held liable among those behind the project”

Chime said there are frequent loss of crops to flooding and fire disasters, depletion of soil, and other natural disasters caused by poor and other illegalities during site approval and such should be avoided to stop frequent loss of lives to such disasters.

“There should be synergy between public and private town planners for the sake development and protection of lives and property because a of work for the same goal”

He said friendship, relationships, or classmates fellowship should be kept aside when it comes to approving building plans to safeguard lives

The Cross River State Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development, Chief Francis Ekpenyong said the state is prepared to partner with town planners because they are professionals who are an integral part of development.

“Town planners are an indispensable partners in development of the state and we take their advice and contributions very seriously in siting projects and residential areas and our doors are open at all times to work with them”

Chief Ekpenyong said the government has plans to establish housing estates across the three Senatorial districts of the state to ease accomodations in urban centres and the town planners will play a cardinal role in the project execution of those housing schemes.

Dr Sam Emri, the Chairman, NIPT Cross River State chapter said the town planners are ready to work assiduously for the growth of the state and country st all times and called on the authorities to always take town planners into confidence while executing projects whetter roads, residential areas and urban expansion schemes to avoid disasters.

He said the government should be wary of non-registered town planners but deal with those who have the mark of authority of the Institute to avoid environmental hazards.