Enforce Delta Urban And Regional Planning Law 2021, APBN Tasks Incoming Govt

The Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN), Delta State chapter has urged the incoming state government to priotise the enforcement of the Delta Urban and Regional Planning (URP) Law 2021 to address building collapses.

The Chairman of APBN in Delta, Mr Sony Ali made the call on Saturday at the “Second Quarters Board Meeting of the Association” in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of the state.

In what he called, “agenda setting for the incoming administration in Delta” Ali urged the incoming state
government to urgently constitute and inaugurate the Board of the Delta State Urban and Regional Planning Board.

He also urged the incoming government to constitute and inaugurate the Urban and Regional Planning Tribunal (URP) Tribunal.

The APBN boss said that the essence of the enforcement was to effectively control development and held any developer or responsible party involved in building collapse accountable.

Ali said that association was deeply concerned about the state of urban infrastructure and incessant building collapse in the state hence the urgent need to enforce the law.

According to him, the Delta State URP Law 2021 was a critical law that set out the guidelines and standards for urban and regional planning in the state noting that the law had since lacked enforceable regulations and guidelines.

“Worried by the incessant building collapse and failure of urban infrastructure across Delta, APBN wishes to call on the incoming administration in the state.

“That irrespective of party or ethnic affiliation should do away with ad hoc taskforce and communities and as a matter of urgency give priority to the enforcement of the Delta URP Law 2021.

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“By constituting and inaugurating the Board of the URP Board as well as the URP Tribunal as envisaged by the Act. This will enable the Board to effectively carry out it’s functions as stipulated in the Law.

“It is also critical to formulate the Development Control Regulations in accordance with the Act for the purpose of having an enforceable development control guidelines and standards.

“Failure to hold developers and property owners to account has been a major challenge and has resulted to the cases of incessant building collapse and failure of urban infrastructure in the state,” he said.

Ali said that with the full implementation of the state URP Law 2021, the chaotic and reckless building development activities with the attendance consequences would be effectively addressed and urged the government to do the needful.

He observed that holding developers and property owner to account would continue to be a challenge in the building and construction industry until government took the bull by the horns by implementing the law.

Ali, however, assured the incoming administration of the association’s readiness to support it’s effort toward the full implementation of the URP Law 2021 and agenda to sanitise the building and construction industry in the state.

He said that the association also expressed deep concerns about the increasing crime rate in the state and the 2023 flood predictions in the country.

Speaking on the insecurity and flood issues, Ali urged the state government and relevant authorities to take proactive measures in addressing the crime rate and implement measures to mitigate the impact of the predicted floods.

The APBN chairman also advised the government to work with relevant stakeholders including professional bodies to develop and implement sustainable solutions that would address the issues in long term.