The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Ogun State Chapter, has called for urgent action to tackle the challenge of rapid population growth in many communities without matching infrastructure to support it.
The institute, in a statement issued on Sunday after its August monthly general meeting in Ilaro, pledged to work closely with the Ogun State Government, Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, and other key stakeholders to address the problem.
Speaking at the event, the state chairman of the institute, Mr. Adefela Sogbesan, said towns like Ilaro and Ibese in Yewa South Local Government Area are facing a serious population boom as more people move into the area. He explained that the presence of big industries, especially Dangote Cement, has turned the region into a busy industrial corridor, attracting workers and families but without adequate development of social facilities.
“It is clear that our communities are growing faster than the infrastructure available to support them. The implications for housing, transportation, drainage, education, and healthcare are very alarming,” Sogbesan said.
As part of their activities, members of the institute paid a courtesy visit to the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, where they were received by the Deputy Rector (Administration), Mr. Lukman Lasisi, who represented the Rector.
Lasisi noted that proper town planning should help to create livable environments that balance residential, commercial, and educational needs. He said the polytechnic was ready to work with the planners but stressed that government rules require paper presentations for the sponsorship of academic conferences. He also urged the institute to help the school address a blocked culvert near the campus that usually causes flooding whenever it rains.
Sogbesan, while responding, explained that modern town planning now involves more than just land demarcation. He said it integrates climate science, data analysis, infrastructure financing, and urban governance, stressing the importance of collaborative research and practical projects to promote sustainable urban development.
The NITP delegation also paid a visit to the Chairman of Yewa South Local Government, Hon. Abraham Ogunsola. During the meeting, the council boss promised to support planning initiatives that would improve the physical and social environment of communities under his watch. He described sustainable infrastructure as a necessity, given the fast-growing population of the area.
At the general meeting held inside the ASUP Hall of the polytechnic, members of the institute also discussed internal matters. These included the postponement of elections to September and preparations for their Annual General Meeting scheduled to hold in Abuja in October.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to raise funds for the completion of the NITP-OG state building. A former Rector of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Alhaji Waheed Kadiri, made an instant donation of ₦250,000, while other members made pledges to support the project.
Kadiri used the platform to advise members to remain committed to the ethics of the profession. He warned them not to put personal interests above professional standards. According to him, urban planning is a serious responsibility that requires integrity and long-term vision.
The town planners concluded their meeting with a renewed call on government and private sector stakeholders to see population growth as both an opportunity and a challenge. They stressed that without timely investment in roads, housing, drainage, schools, hospitals, and other basic infrastructure, the current growth trend could lead to congestion, flooding, and social problems.
They also emphasized that proper town planning should serve as a tool for sustainable growth, especially in industrial hubs like Ilaro and Ibese, where economic activities continue to attract people from within and outside Ogun State.
