‘Many Nigerian cities lack development plans’

The Dean, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Professor Nasiru Idris, has expressed dismay that many Nigerian cities have not had development plans since independence.

In an interview with Daily Trust on Sunday, he said cities were better before independence but got worse after due to lack of planning.

According to him, policies were never followed thereby alienating so many aspects of development thereby leading to environmental problems.

For instance, the dean pointed out, that the drainage system is a major issue in the country which many people take for granted but leads to environmental problems, flooding and outbreak of diseases among others.

Prof Idris explained that cities are places where people are meant to live comfortably but due to urbanization, imbalance in structural issues abound.

Besides, he noted that there was lack of coordination between the federal, state and local governments, such that there is no order and policy for environmental stability.

The lecturer said the establishment of the Geographic Information Services by the Nasarawa State Government was in the right direction for proper restructure land administration and management.

He remarked that such geographic services help bring all land matters under one system and check crisis of land.