The Minister of Housing and Urban Development Urges States to Enforce the 1992 Urban Planning Law

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa has called on state governments to adopt and enforce the Urban and Regional Planning Law (Decree 88 of 1992), describing its neglect as a major driver of Nigeria’s disorderly urban expansion and proliferation of informal settlements.

Speaking at the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) National Colloquium in Abuja, Dangiwa expressed concern that more than three decades after the law’s enactment, only two states, including Katsina, have operationalized it.

He explained that the absence of comprehensive spatial planning frameworks at the state and local government levels has resulted in uncoordinated growth patterns, overstretched infrastructure, and environmental degradation.

“Urban and regional planning is the backbone of sustainable growth, efficient infrastructure, and social well-being,” Dangiwa said. “Without proper planning laws and enforcement mechanisms, cities will continue to expand chaotically, undermining efforts to deliver decent housing and functional urban spaces.”

Call for Nationwide Adoption Under Renewed Hope Agenda

The minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment under the Renewed Hope Agenda to strengthen national planning institutions and support state governments in domesticating the 1992 law.

According to Dangiwa, coordinated spatial development is central to achieving inclusive growth and reducing Nigeria’s housing and infrastructure deficits. He noted that the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development is prioritising collaboration with the NITP, state urban planning boards, and local councils to build institutional capacity and promote compliance with national planning standards.

He commended the NITP for fostering dialogue around sustainable urbanization and urged professionals in the built environment to advocate for policy reforms that align land use, transport, housing, and economic development within a unified planning framework.

Experts Link Weak Urban Governance to Rising Informality

Urban planning experts have long identified weak governance and poor policy enforcement as key factors behind the rise of informal settlements, which account for over 60% of urban housing in major Nigerian cities, according to UN-Habitat data.

Analysts argue that state-level inaction on the 1992 law has hindered the integration of urban planning into fiscal and social policy decisions, leaving cities vulnerable to unregulated development and infrastructure deficits.

If implemented effectively, the law would provide a legal and institutional basis for spatial development, land use control, and environmental management, critical components of resilient urban systems.

Planning Reform as a Pillar for Sustainable Growth

Dangiwa’s renewed call for enforcement of the Urban and Regional Planning Law highlights a broader national challenge aligning urban development with demographic realities and infrastructure capacity.

For investors and policymakers, the move signals a shift toward evidence-based planning and regulatory reform aimed at improving livability, supporting housing delivery, and attracting sustainable urban investment.