The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) has assured Family Homes Funds Limited (FHFL) of continuous collaboration, geared towards housing estates delivery that certify sustainable planning requirements for optimum efficiency.
The assurance was given by the NITP President, Tpl. Olutoyin Ayinde during a courtesy call to the leadership of FHFL in Abuja Wednesday.
Ayinde described FHFL as one of the key stakeholders in the built and construction sector who has done fantastically well in the area of housing delivery, particularly affordable housing in Nigeria.
While commending the leadership of the institution for its spirit of sportsmanship despite its limitations, he expressed optimism for greater impacts.
He also noted that the town planning profession has gained a negative connotation over the years, adding that town planning is about creating a vision for the future.
“Town planning is not building plan approval. Building plan approval is a downstream pedestrian product of town planning. This misconception has generally been accountable for the outright neglect of the field. It’s about making plans for ourselves and settlement to ensure there are ordered developments now and in the future.
“We create a future through the preparation of physical development plans, based on several studies and analysis to ultimately guide growth and development of human settlements, as well as promote their betterment and sustainability”, he revealed.
According to Ayinde, it was pertinent to embark on the courtesy call to emphasize the need for physical development plans at regional and city levels to facilitate FHF’s programme of providing affordable homes, as well as intimating the organization with its forthcoming national conference, billed to hold between 7th and 11th November at the International Conference Center, Abuja.
He said: “Housing is a component of cities and communities and will sit better in a city or settlement system where the framework has been adequately set to bring all other components to the fore, and then enhance functionality.
“The theme for this year’s conference revolves around physical planning and urban security in Nigeria, a subject matter we believe concerns and affects everyone of us. As a stakeholder in the built sector, your contribution and participation will be highly appreciated.”
“We look forward to having a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with you to enable us to add more value to what’s available at the moment.”
Reacting, the Managing Director of Family Homes Funds Limited, Femi Adewole, lauded the leadership of NITP for the courtesy visit, describing it as a ‘right step at the right time.’
He said planning remains a major area that Nigeria has significantly taken a wrong turn in terms of appreciating the centrality of planning to not just major cities but also to human lives generally.
According to him, over the last three years, FHFL has had the opportunity to contribute significantly to the supply of new affordable homes for Nigerians.
Although he lamented the organization has not performed up to expectation, he said there was a need to put planning at the center of all its projects to meet intended needs of homeless Nigerians.
He said the skills and expertise of the NITP will be fully tapped into for the purpose of maximizing the investments of FHFL, to ensure sustainability.
He reiterated that land scarcity, especially in the cities, remains a great challenge of housing delivery in the country, as he sued for the release of dedicated lands for affordable housing in urban settlements.
