NITP blames Abuja’s flooding, chaos on breach of master plan

The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, NITP, has warned that Abuja’s persistent flooding and growing urban chaos are direct consequences of continued violations of the city’s original Master Plan.Chairperson of the NITP, FCT Chapter, Queen Philips, said the only way to restore order and sustainability in the nation’s capital is to realign ongoing developments with the city’s founding blueprint.According to her, Abuja’s growing chaos marked by illegal structures, blocked drainages, and unregulated land allocations, mirrors the same mistakes that plunged Lagos into decades of urban decay and flooding.“Abuja was designed to correct the planning chaos that Lagos suffered. But what we see today is that the same mistakes are being repeated, land is being allocated without professional input, drainages are being blocked, and buildings are springing up in zones originally reserved for public use or green space.”She identified Asokoro, Guzape and Trademore Estate as flashpoints where distortion of the master plan has created flood-prone zones and mounting environmental risks. Philips lamented that political interference and elite interests have sidelined professionals in critical planning decisions, worsening the city’s vulnerability.The NITP chairperson warned that Abuja is already showing signs of strain from rapid population growth, crumbling infrastructure, informal settlements and climate-related threats. Such problems, she said, can only be managed through strict adherence to the city’s original design principles.She revealed that the institute has written to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, requesting a formal meeting to present professional guidance on restoring the capital’s master plan and aligning new infrastructure projects with it.While commending Wike’s ongoing investments in roads and public infrastructure, Philips insisted that proper planning must guide implementation.In her words, “Infrastructure without planning only postpones disaster,” stressing that short-term fixes cannot replace a coherent, long-term urban vision.While urging government to anchor all urban renewal efforts on sustainable planning principles, Phillips advised that Abuja’s transformation into a smart and modern city must prioritise people and inclusiveness, adding that “technology should serve people, not drive exclusion.”