ASABA/Nigeria: In a significant call to action, President Ahmed Tinubu and the Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, have urged town planners to take measures to combat the effects of climate change through effective urban planning. They made these appeals during separate addresses at the 54th national conference cum annual general meeting of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners held in Asaba on Tuesday.
President Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Housing and Urban Renewal, Architect Ahmed Dangiwa, emphasized the pivotal role of town planning in addressing the challenges posed by climate change. He stated, “I am convinced that effective town planning remains an important tool in our effort as a government to contain and mitigate the challenges of climate change.”
President Tinubu went on to commend Governor Oborevwori for hosting the conference and underscored the urgent nature of the climate crisis, saying, “Climate change is no longer a distant threat; it is a stark reality that confronts us every year and every day. The rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, and increasingly severe flooding worldwide have become the new norm rather than the exception.”
Governor Oborevwori, through an address read by the Deputy Governor of Delta State, Sir Monday Onyeme, FCA, stressed the importance of strict adherence to town planning and urban development laws. He warned against the consequences of not following these regulations, stating, “Town planning officials and regulatory bodies must ensure strict compliance with town planning and urban development laws to avoid the unpleasant task of demolishing buildings on waterways and drainage channels.”
The Governor also highlighted the need for public cooperation in protecting the environment, stating, “The cooperation of the public is also imperative because they have as much at stake as public officials in the protection and preservation of the environment.” He continued, “As a coastal state, Delta has been grappling with erosion and flooding. But as a government, we have implemented measures to mitigate the effects of impending floods, as warned by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NIMET.”
Governor Oborevwori further revealed the proactive steps taken by his administration to address the flooding menace, emphasizing, “This administration, as a responsive and environment-friendly government, established a high-powered committee, led by the Secretary to the Government, to tackle the issue of flooding. The committee was tasked with mitigation and advising the government on adaptive measures to reduce the impacts of flooding in the state.”
Highlighting their progress, he noted, “On a positive note, the committee has been diligently fulfilling its responsibilities, including the opening up of major canals throughout the state. Physical planning has also been identified as a major strategy for flood prevention.”
Governor Oborevwori concluded by stressing the importance of avoiding situations where governments are forced to demolish buildings on waterways and drainage channels due to non-compliance with planning regulations. He emphasized, “Our government is fully aware of its responsibilities to Deltans, and we are addressing them head-on by making our built environment more resilient to the challenges posed by climate change.”Pray for political leaders, Oborevwori charges Delta PFN
