14th September, 2017
The Nigeria Institute of Town Planners (NITP) says its 48th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Conference will feature town hall meeting to highlight and tackle issues facing the Niger-Delta region.
The NITP National President, Mr Lukas Achi made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.
The 48th AGM is scheduled to hold in Yenogoa, Bayelsa from Oct. 23 to Oct. 27, 2017 with the theme: “Physical Planning for Environmental Equity, Security and Economic Enhancement”.
He said the conference would be bordering on security and the challenges Nigerians were facing, especially in the Niger-Delta region, adding that it would dwell on national development and restrictions in the country.
Achi noted that the forthcoming town hall meeting was a procedure, which the planners decided to utilise to come out with suggestions that would assist the nation in resolving issues in the region.
He noted that the target audience for the town hall meeting, which would be held during the AGM, would be the Niger-Delta youths, concerned citizens and professional planners.
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“We always choose a topic relating to the zone we are going to and what is happening in that particular area.
“The challenges in Bayelsa have to do with the environment, security and common good of the whole country.
“As professionals we want to adopt the procedure to come up with suggestions aimed at resolving the region’s problems.
The expert noted that the development in Bayelsa, especially in the area of oil exploration and the damage it was having on the environment needed a lasting solution.
According to the planner, finding better technology and options to solve the region’s problems was its objective.
He are concern with the agitations from the Niger Delta communities, especially the youths and concerned people.
He also expressed dissatisfaction over the cost of construction in the region, adding that apart from money mapped out for a construction one would still pay unnecessary bills to settle community people.
“It will do the Federal Government good to listen to the people in that area and find out their plight. Let them feel what other Nigerians are feeling.
“The government should not hesitate to find out what their needs. If the area is rehabilitated, over 50 per cent of the crisis will be reduced,” he said.