By Angela Atabo
The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter, has called for renewed attention to the sustainable and inclusive development of Abuja’s satellite towns.
Chairperson of the NITP FCT Chapter, Queen Phillips, made the call at the 2025 edition of the FCT Town Planners Day, on Wednesday in Abuja.
She said the theme of the event, “Regional Development in the FCT: Rethinking Public Sector-led Development of Abuja Satellite Towns,” was timely and relevant.
“The Abuja Master Plan envisioned a balanced pattern of growth, with satellite towns playing a complementary role to the Federal Capital City by accommodating population growth, stimulating economic opportunities, and reducing pressure on the city centre.
“However, current realities reveal significant disparities.
“Many of the satellite towns still grapple with inadequate infrastructure, poor service delivery, and weak governance systems.”
She acknowledged that in recent years, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) had introduced reforms to address those challenges through policy measures aimed at monitoring growth, enforcing planning standards, and promoting adherence to the Abuja Master Plan.
However, she stressed that while those efforts highlighted the importance of public sector leadership, they also raised concerns about inclusivity, governance, and long-term sustainability.
“Today’s deliberations aim to interrogate these critical questions. Town Planners Day has always served as a platform for reflection, dialogue, and policy advocacy.
“Let us go beyond identifying challenges to crafting actionable solutions that can transform Abuja’s satellite towns into vibrant, resilient, and inclusive urban centres,” she said.
The Chairman of the occasion, Coordinator of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, Felix Obuah, commended the NITP FCT Chapter for selecting a theme that spoke directly to Abuja’s future.
Represented by the Director of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, Obuah said Abuja was conceived to be more than just a capital, it was envisioned as a modern, inclusive, and well-planned city.
“But step into satellite towns like Kubwa, Karshi, Nyanya, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Kwali, and Abaji, and you see another reality: poor infrastructure, housing shortages, long commutes, and limited opportunities.
“This imbalance is obvious. The city centre thrives while the periphery struggles, an outcome of neglect in implementing the city’s master and regional development plans,” he said.
Obuah noted that for decades, development in the FCT has been largely city-centered and government-driven, with bureaucracy, limited resources, and poor execution resulting in unfinished projects and overstretched services.
“Government leadership is essential, but it cannot do it alone. Partnerships with the private sector and local communities are vital. We have a world-class master plan, but a plan remains a plan until implemented,” he said.
He called on town planners to rise to the occasion, engage with communities, and ensure that development reaches the satellite towns, making them livable, sustainable, and prosperous.
Also speaking, the 26th President of the NITP, Dr Chime Ogbonna, represented by the Second National Vice President, Garba Jibrin, said the original strategy for the FCT was to develop Abuja city alongside the satellite towns.
He said the approach would ensure functional coherence and provide complementary services across the territory.
“However, inadequate funding, policy inconsistencies, and economic and political factors have led to disproportionate focus on the city centre, causing satellite towns to deteriorate into slums.”
Ogbonna said the 2025 theme was particularly relevant, as the FCT Administration was now prioritising infrastructure development in the satellite towns.(NAN)
==========
Edited by Abiemwense Moru
