Fight disasters with your expertise, Minister tells town planners

Mr Ahmed Dangiwa, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, has emphasised the importance of town planning in reducing disaster risks at the 2024 Town Planners Day event in Abuja.

Represented by a fellow of the institute, Dr David Olakunle, the minister stressed the need for town planners to play a more prominent role in disaster risk reduction and urban resilience.

He noted that the increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters made the role of town planners more critical than ever.

The minister expressed appreciation for the theme, “Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience in the FCT,” which he said addressed a critical concern in today’s world.

He emphasised the need to incorporate disaster risk reduction measures into urban planning, design, and governance to build resilient cities.

The minister disclosed that the Federal Government was undertaking initiatives to strengthen urban resilience nationwide.

In his goodwill message, Mr Felix Obuah, Coordinator of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, noted that the FCT was increasingly vulnerable to natural and man-made disasters.

He stressed the responsibility of urban planners and policymakers to anticipate these challenges.

Similarly, Mrs Lami Ayuba, Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, FCT Chapter, highlighted the growing necessity of designing urban spaces that could withstand both natural and human-induced hazards.