Development Control and Local Planning Authorities in Enugu: A Critical Appraisal

The Local Planning Authorities as established under the law of Nigeria are composed of representatives (registered members) of the relevant professions: Architecture, Civil Engineering, Land Surveying, Law, Town Planning, and some departments in the local government. They are charged with the responsibilities of preparing town, rural, local and subject plans, and undertaking development control, among others within their areas of jurisdiction. However, we have observed a gross manifestation of impropriety and inefficiency as evidenced in the spate of uncoordinated urban/rural physical and infrastructural development. In most Nigerian cities, apart from the few well planned areas in the colonial era (most of which have been bastardized) almost all other physical planning and development control activities lack merit. Preliminary findings point to the ongoing demolition and restoration efforts in some major cities/urban areas like Abuja, Owerri, Enugu etc, as an evidence of the laxity in the development control mechanism. This paper suggested that to control the wastes that result from such demolitions and restorations, the entire development control machinery needs to be thoroughly overhauled. It recommended that one major way of achieving this is by ensuring proper enforcement of existing laws that regulate project approval and implementation. It also advocated for involvement of the relevant professional bodies represented in the Local Planning Authorities.