World Environment Day: Town planners warn against impending crises on Nigeria’s ecosystem

By Nneka Nwogwugwu

The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) has called on the Federal and state governments to take leadership and responsibility in abiding by the principles and practices of Urban and Regional Planning for eco system restoraction.

NITP stated this in a statement released on Saturday to commemorate the 2021 World Environment Day.

It decried the poor attention given to issues of climate crises and urban and regional planning in the country.

According to the statement, “In a nation like Nigeria, where little or no regard has been given to Urban and Regional Planning, this year’s celebration is an opportunity to sound a note of warning on the impending calamity awaiting us as a nation if we do not take heed.

“The constant unplanned use and development of what is glaringly a scarce resource (land and the environment around us) has unveiled the pervading ignorance amongst humanity of the value and role the Environment plays as life’s support.

“Man’s penchant for selfish motives has furthered the severe consequences of the abuse and misuse of the limited environmental resources as we continue to feel the increasing heat of global warming, as well as the rising incidence of flooding caused by swelling oceans, rivers and other larger water bodies, bringing man face to face with threat to food security.”

NITP informed that proactive measures can be taken to protect the environment only through respect for the principles and practices of Urban and Regional Planning that we can begin to regain the sanity and sanctity of our ecosystem.

“We must, therefore, invigorate the growing of trees in all neighbourhoods, with each house planting at least one tree every year within its curtilage.

“While joining the rest of the world to mark the World Environment Day 2021, the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) enjoins governments at the federal, state and local levels to take leadership and responsibility in abiding by the principles and practices of Urban and Regional Planning.

“They should lead in showing good examples, first in the way public buildings and facilities, as well as infrastructure are planned, before being developed.

“This is in order to promote Ecosystem Restoration, which is a major step towards achieving livability and sustainability of our cities and communities.

“Doing this would amount to fulfilling the requirements of Goal 11 of the Sustainable Development Goals Agenda 2030,” the statement added.

The Institute also noted that on their own part, “we are able to revive the landscapes within and around public, as well as private buildings, promote the provision and maintenance of public parks and gardens, while ensuring that we keep our waterways clean and unclogged.

“We will then be adding our own little contribution to those of many others to enhance Ecosystem Restoration. The NITP wishes Nigeria and the rest of the world Happy World Environment Day 2021.

“There is no better time than now to raise the awareness of the threat to the life support of humanity on planet Earth, the Environment.

“As man’s population increases, there is the fear of a proportional increase in the destruction of the ecosystem because of the constant compulsion to satisfy his needs.

“It is for this reason that the theme for the 2021 Environment Day celebration is relevant if man’s existence on earth is to be sustained.”