Land Reform: Town Planners want holistic approach to land management
By Ella Anokam
Land
Abuja, June 6, 2018 (NAN) The Nigeria Institute of Town Planners (NITP) on Wednesday called for holistic approach to land management in Nigeria.
The NITP President, Chief Luka Achi made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on the sideline of the National Stakeholder’s Dialogue on Land Reform in Nigeria.
The dialogue is being organised by Presidential Technical Committee on Land Reform (PTCLR) with the theme: “Land Reform: Creating Strategic Pathway to National Economic Development and Wealth Creation.”
The committee has proposed Systematic Land Titling and Registration (SLTR) to improve economic values of land and sanitise land administration in Nigeria.
Achi argued that though the committee wanted a reform that would make the economic aspect to grow but the planning aspect would suffer.
“All the issues raised and papers presented have neglected how the land planning will gain ground or be part of it. If there is no planning, there will be confusion when it comes to implementation.
The NITP boss expressed dissatisfaction that emphasis has only been more on economic aspect of land reform, especially titling or registering land to obtain loans.
He wondered about what would happen to the use of land so that the value can be maximised in terms of redesigning, preparing, development, schedules and schemes.
According to him, maximising the value of land can change a particular land from not usable to more usable.
“That is the element we are emphasising on as town planners, value of land can be changed by decision we take in terms of where each piece of land is situated and whatever activity.
The committee had also proposed an establishment of a National Land Commission to oversee land matters in the country.
The expert, however, said that establishing a National Land Commission would be out of place since there was an existing National Physical Planning Commission that was enacted but not completely activated.
“There is a role the physical commission is going to play in terms of national, regional, subject and action plans.
“If that one is not sorted out then how will the land registration and reform accommodate changes in terms of socioeconomic needs through our desire for land to invest?
“The committee should take cognisance of the fact that there is an already commission enacted but has not started. It will not be good to contradict or duplicate issues.
“It will be good to merge the enacted one with the new commission being proposed by the committee to get the planning aspect in the reform working together,” he advised.
Achi urged the committee to be more proactive to achieve its mandate because it has been in existence since 2009 and people have been crying for new land reform in the country. (NAN)
ELLA/AFA
Edited by Felix Ajide