By Jennifer John
The State Chapter of the Nigerian institute of Town planners have been charged to collaborate with government to review and restore the Owerri master plan such that both the Urban centres and the rural areas are affected.
Governor Hope Uzodimma gave the charge when he received in audience the members of the Nigerian Institute of Town planners led by the national President Mr. Toyin Ayinde at the government house Owerri.
Uzodimma said this partnership would entail the creation of a document that would guide social and physical infrastructural development in the state, which is to be called ‘A Vision Document’.
The Governor expressed optimism that with the vision document and the caliber of professional town planners, Imo should be the most planned as he assured that he was ready to put in place a master plan that will not only act as a road map for all development but will encourage and guide investment to stimulate economy, create jobs and bring prosperity.
“My administration understands very clearly the importance of physical planning to the development of a state and is prepared to do its best to encourage critical stakeholders in the sector to ensure that Imo is physically planned and organised from the rural setting, zonal to Urban centres, as a matter of fact we will have a formidable regional environment.” , Uzodimma said.
Earlier, the national president, of the Nigeria Institute of Town Planners, NITP, Mr Toyin Ayinde who said he was on a working visit to the state, appreciated Uzodimma’s nationalist ideals and passion for Urban and regional development, emphasizing that physical planning is the bedrock to sustainable development and that town planning is the answer to good governance.
