Annual Waheed Kadiri Lecture Series hold in Abeokuta, attracts stakeholders
Damilare Adeleye (Intern)
The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Ogun State Chapter on Tuesday held its 12th edition of Annual Waheed Kadiri Lecture Series which has grown into a significant intellectual platform where pressing national issues are dissected by seasoned professionals and policymakers.
Penpushing reports that the theme of the event, tagged: Designing Safer Nigeria: Engineering Planning, and the Fight Against Insecurity, was held at Ogun Pension Hall located along Moshood Abiola Way, Abeokuta.
The event, which also coincided with Alhaji Waheed Kadiri’s 75th birthday celebration, attracted an array of dignitaries, including government officials, professionals, academics, and fellows of the institute, all united by a shared commitment to designing safer and more resilient Nigerian cities.
Penpushing further reports that the Vice Chancellor of Bells University of Technology, Professor Jeremiah Oludele Ojediran, addressing gathering called on governments at all levels to commence the strict enforcement of urban master plans as a strategic and sustainable approach to tackling the growing wave of insecurity across Nigeria.
The Vice Chancellor, pointed out that the persistent security challenges confronting the country cannot be divorced from years of poor urban planning, weak enforcement of development regulations, and the proliferation of unregulated structures.
Penpushing also reports that he stressed that a comprehensive review and enforcement of city master plans would not only restore orderliness but in same vein, significantly enhance public safety.
The Vice Chancellor equally called for an overhaul of the country’s building strategy, emphasizing that new areas should be properly mapped and planned, and the old ones can be restructured.
Penpushing reports that Ojediran, addressing journalists on the sidelines of the programme, expressed delight at the quality of discourse at the event, while harping on that past flaws in buildings across the country should be corrected proactively to forestall further security complications.
“Even though we have failed a bit in the past, we can still reverse that. We can still restructure our society. The planners will have to sit down and remake our cities. New areas that have been developed must be properly mapped and planned, and the old ones can be restructured’, he said
Penpushing further reports that he maintained that the ongoing demolitions in some parts of the country, though often controversial, are necessary steps toward creating safer and more functional urban environments.
The scholar emphasized the urgent need for states to develop comprehensive master plans for their cities and ensure strict compliance with approved building regulations.
“Some governments are already doing this, demolishing some houses to make pathways. There are areas that are over-congested; we need to decongest them. Slums have to become a thing of the past; we must clear them and ensure they’re properly planned’, he stated.
“Governance, as somebody said, is important, especially in security. They must provide security for everyone. Policing is good, but we must have agencies and institutions to take care of that. Before they approve any plan for a house, they must check the master plan’.
‘Cities in this country don’t have master plans; why? We must start having master plans, and they must be duly followed. Where they’re not followed, there should be sanctions. Every town, every city, must have a plan’.
Penpushing also reports that he equally tasked the government with lighting up streets across the country through solar-powered systems in order to curb criminal activities that thrive under the cover of darkness.
“Infrastructure, especially power, is crucial. Without power, you have a dangerous thing. For power, you need to hold three ways: hydro, gas, and solar. Nigeria has gone one way for too long’.
‘Abia is now producing its own power using solar and gas; they have enough gas, which we burn every day. Our streets must be solar-lit, not hydro-lit. If it’s solar-lit, whether there’s power or not, the light should come on. If it’s a private area, criminals cannot come in. Our schools, markets, and cabinets must be properly guided and well-lit, not giving criminals space to operate.”
Penpushing reports that Ojediran explained that restructuring cities in line with master plans would require decisive and, at times, uncomfortable actions such as demolitions and reconstruction in order to achieve long-term development and security.
“If, for example, Abeokuta has a master plan, they draw it out, and they go ahead and create roads, there will be demolition and construction, and that must be done. When they explore, what will they do? The demolition gets drained here. If you have to restructure, it must break down fast’.
‘I’ll give you an example: if the road is not good, demolish it. We’ll complain, but after it’s been well done, and we start seeing it, everyone will be happy. We must do it; it’s give and take. We can’t eat our cake and have it. So, now, we agree to planning, not no planning at all.”
Penpushing reports that the Vice Chancellor earlier in his presentation on the theme maintained that insecurity in Nigeria cannot be solved by force alone, arguing that the menace is deeply shaped by poor infrastructure, weak institutions, fragmented responsibilities, and inadequate development planning.
“When spaces are poorly planned, infrastructure is neglected, and responsibilities are fragmented, insecurity finds room to grow. When planning and engineering are thoughtful, coordinated, and people-centred, they become powerful tools for prevention’
“Insecurity is not accidental. It is closely linked to the way our roads are laid out, how neighbourhoods develop, how public spaces are maintained, and how services are delivered’, he stated
Penpushing further reports that the architecture scholar advocated that security should be understood as a shared responsibility among various stakeholders, noting that security agencies alone cannot shoulder the burden of safeguarding the nation.
“Engineers, planners, policymakers, local governments, and communities all play vital roles. The choices made in planning offices, design studios, and policy rooms shape everyday safety just as much as patrols and checkpoints do’.
‘Communities, too, matter deeply. Their knowledge of local conditions, their vigilance, and their willingness to participate are essential for sustaining safe environments. When people feel ownership of their spaces, they are more likely to protect them. This is why coordination is so important. Engineers and planners must work closely from the start of projects, not in isolation’
“Policymakers must create frameworks that encourage collaboration rather than competition among institutions. Communities must be brought into planning processes as partners rather than afterthoughts.”
Penpushing also reports that, Ogun State Commissioner for Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Olatunji Odunlami, in his remark noted that the lecture series has evolved beyond a mere annual gathering, as it consistently addresses emerging and pressing issues confronting the nation.
“Every year we gather here to have a lecture. But it’s also not a routine because every year erudite and eminent people have been brought here to come and speak to us on various topics across the spectrum of human endeavours. Although it is a ritual and every year, it is not a ritual because something new comes up every year’, Odunlami stated.
Penpushing reports that he described this year’s theme as both timely and critical, particularly at a period when many parts of the country are grappling with banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, and other violent crimes, which he attributed in part to poor or non-existent physical planning.
“This topic will not have come at a better time than now in the history of our country Nigeria. Banditry, terrorism, kidnapping for ransom, even murder, and other lesser crimes are being committed everyday. And a lot has been attached to the issue of either lack of planning or bad physical planning that has made it easy for people to occupy ungoverned spaces’, he said
Penpushing further reports that Odunlami disclosed that the state government has been at the forefront of strengthening urban security through regulatory reforms, including the installation of street cameras and mandatory layout approvals for large expanses of land.
“Many of our regulations have dealt with the issue of urban security in terms of the provisions for street cameras to be on our high streets on commercial buildings’, the commissioner emphasised
‘We have made it mandatory now that every plot of land that is more than one hectare, you have to lay out for them so that our streets, our communities can be more accessible for so many things: for police, for the fire service and for other emergency needs.”
“There’s a need for us to start rethinking planning to make our plans more responsive to the demands of today such that planners will become more relevant, we become first point of contact before anybody does any physical development’, he added
Penpushing also reports that Ogun State Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, Olusola Odukoya, in his welcome speech described the lecture as a beacon for intellectual engagement, professional excellence, and national development.
The Chairman asserted that security is no longer the exclusive responsibility of the armed forces and law enforcement agencies but demands collective input.
“The way we design our cities, structure our communities, distribute land users and engineer infrastructure significantly influences safety outcomes. Poorly planned settlements, unregulated urban expansion, inadequate infrastructure, and weak special coordination often create environments that breed crimes and social disorder’
Penpushing reports that Odukoya pointed out that, the 12th edition of the lecture series reflects the discipline, vision, and dedication of Kadiri, who was a former president of the Nigerian Town Planners, adding that he remains committed to advancing planning practice and education in Nigeria.
The Chairman pointed that Kadiri’s efforts have helped nurture generations of planners who are technically sound, ethically grounded, and socially responsive, stressing that securing the country requires deliberate collaboration among diverse stakeholders.
“A safer Nigeria will not emerge by chance. It will be deliberately designed. It requires constructive collaboration between planners, engineers, academics, policy makers, and security stakeholders.”
Penpushing reports that Kadiri while addressing journalists at the event, thanked God for the privilege of life and the opportunity to make meaningful impacts, noting that he remains committed to serving as an inspiring role model for the younger and upcoming generations of town planners
“I believe it is important to give our best in all that we do. For others to trust and support us, we must be committed and sincere. Not everything needs to be said before it is done; sometimes our actions should speak first. So we must all be ready to give our best at all times to build a better world’, he stated
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