The Cross River State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with professional bodies to advance sustainable physical planning, efficient land administration and orderly urban development across the state.
The Commissioner for Lands, Dr. Erasmus Ekpang, gave the assurance during a strategic engagement with the leadership of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Cross River State Chapter, held at the Conference Hall of the Cross River Geographic Information Agency (CRGIA) in Calabar.
The meeting, convened at the instance of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners and hosted by the Director-General of the Cross River Geographic Information Agency, Mr. Williams Archibong, brought together the Chairman of the NITP, Cross River State Chapter, Tpl. Abobana Edim Abobana, executive members of the Institute and senior officials of CRGIA.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Ekpang underscored the critical role of professional town planners in shaping functional, resilient and sustainable communities, stressing that sound physical planning remains central to the state’s long-term development agenda.
He said the Ministry of Lands would continue to work closely with professional institutions and other stakeholders to ensure that physical development and land use across Cross River conform to established planning standards and global best practices.
The Commissioner noted that the administration of Governor Bassey Edet Otu places a high premium on strategic planning, efficient land management and the deployment of modern technologies in land administration as key drivers of sustainable economic growth and urban transformation.
According to him, stronger collaboration among government institutions and professional bodies is essential to achieving the administration’s vision of creating well-planned, investment-friendly and environmentally sustainable communities.
Dr. Ekpang commended the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners for its unwavering commitment to professionalism, ethical practice and capacity building within the planning profession, expressing confidence that sustained partnership would further accelerate urban renewal, infrastructure development and environmental sustainability across the state.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, Cross River State Chapter, Tpl. Abobana Edim Abobana, thanked the Commissioner for honouring the Institute’s invitation and reaffirmed the Institute’s readiness to partner with the Ministry of Lands and other relevant agencies in promoting sound physical planning and sustainable urban development.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the Cross River Geographic Information Agency, Mr. Williams Archibong, described the engagement as timely, noting that enhanced institutional collaboration would strengthen land information management, improve planning processes and enhance service delivery for the benefit of the people of Cross River State.
The meeting ended with a renewed commitment by the Ministry of Lands, the Cross River Geographic Information Agency and the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners to deepen cooperation in promoting orderly, sustainable and technology-driven physical development across Cross River State.
By Kingsley Agim.
