By Abbas Nazil
Poorly regulated town planning across Nigeria is fueling severe environmental crises, experts have warned.
In a recent paper published in Ecolink, Dr. Salami Kaseem Dele of the Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Federal University Dutse, and Abbas Nazil of NatureNews Africa, stressed that unplanned development is undermining ecosystems, worsening climate vulnerabilities, and endangering human livelihoods.
According to the authors, poor town planning often results in haphazard growth, destruction of green spaces, loss of biodiversity, and widespread pollution.
The absence of proper infrastructure intensifies flooding in major cities such as Lagos, while unchecked informal settlements in Abuja expand without basic services, placing people in environmentally hazardous zones.
Traffic congestion in Port Harcourt further contributes to air pollution and inefficient energy use.
These consequences, they argue, directly compromise Nigeria’s environmental sustainability and the wellbeing of rural and urban communities.
The paper underscores that rural areas face the highest risks, as fragile environments are degraded by unsustainable land use.
Limited infrastructure, inadequate sanitation, and poor water systems combine with climate change impacts to heighten ecological damage.
The authors note that effective planning could mitigate these risks by preserving natural resources, protecting watersheds, and promoting eco-friendly agricultural practices.
They recommend participatory planning strategies that engage local communities, integrate traditional knowledge, and foster collaboration between government agencies, NGOs, and citizens.
Policies such as the National Urban Development Policy, if properly implemented, can guide sustainable urbanization by balancing population growth with environmental conservation.
Despite ongoing reforms, challenges remain.
Financial constraints, weak institutional capacity, and policy enforcement gaps continue to undermine efforts at sustainable planning.
The authors call for urgent reforms to strengthen planning departments, expand training, and prioritize environmental safeguards in town planning decisions.
Without these measures, Nigeria risks deeper ecological degradation, worsening poverty, and a decline in overall quality of life.
