By Pius Awunah
The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) has called on officials of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) responsible for parks, recreation and development control to strengthen the implementation processes and ensure strict adherence to the Abuja Master Plan.
NITP’s President, Dr. Chime Ogbonna made the call on Monday, December 22, 2025, during a leadership meeting with officials of the development control department in Abuja.
According to him, there is a need for a comprehensive review of the Abuja Master Plan, originally prepared in 1979, noting that decades of demographic, technological and physical changes have overtaken key provisions of the document.
Ogbonna confirmed that the city has witnessed significant land-use changes, rapid urbanisation across the FCT’s regional areas, population growth and new global approaches to city development, all of which necessitate an updated planning framework.
“We appeal to the minister of the FCT, who has been leading flagship infrastructure projects, to also prioritise a comprehensive review of the Abuja Master Plan to provide robust guidance for the growth of our national capital,” he plead.
He warned that failure to uphold the sanctity of the master plan would result in chaos and disharmony in the city.
“There will be disorder when there is no roadmap guiding development. The Abuja Master Plan remains the primary instrument for ensuring coordinated growth. Its implementation procedures must be followed to make Abuja the jewel of the world, “he added.
The NITP president emphasised that plan implementation is a “serious business,” adding that without proper execution; the city’s well-crafted plans risk being compromised or abused.
Responding, the Acting Director of the FCT Department of Development Control, Dr. Bashir Sanusi commended the institute for its concerns and pledged commitment to safeguarding the master plan.
He said the department would promote participatory processes that place citizens at the centre of planning.
Also speaking, the Acting Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation, Joseph Dhis, underscored the importance of realising Abuja’s vision as a green, eco-friendly “Garden City of Africa.”
He said that the master plan allocates no less than 30 percent of the city’s land use to green development.
“Green areas have been conceived as foundational elements of the city’s development. They remain essential not only for aesthetics but also for environmental sustainability,” he said.
