The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, has called on the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) to proffer solutions to the challenges of urbanisation in Anambra State with special focus on the commercial city of Onitsha.

Achebe, who made the call in Onitsha when a delegation of NITP paid him a courtesy visit at his Palace, expressed worry that the beautiful old city of Onitsha had become “one big ghetto” and lost to commercial activities.

He lamented the state of the Government Reserved Area, which according to him was gradually turning into an eyesore with the indiscriminate citing of commercial structures and motor parks without proper planning.

In his words, “The streets of Onitsha in the 1960s had trees on them; Nkwelle mmili, markets and even the clay streets were clean. There are pictures to show for this.

“But today, we are suffocated with garbage in places like Fegge which used to be very clean. It is a terrible place today.

“Onitsha market was built by colonial planners. Vehicles could pass through the markets to discharge goods. The roads were all well planned, the toilets, everything. Today, where you see public toilet, there is a shop on top of it.

“Literarily, a blind person will tell you that Onitsha is in bad shape but a professional walk around will now determine how bad it is.”

The monarch described Onitsha markets as “organised confusion”, saying: “Some markets needs to be destroyed and rebuilt or moved somewhere else.”

He charged them to walk around the cities of Awka, Onitsha and Nnewi with a view to making recommendations on things that need to be done.

According to the traditional ruler, new markets were springing up but were still being built with old specification adding that the United Nation Habitat had declared Onitsha as one of the ten fastest growing cities in the world; hence, the need for urgent attention.

“So, one would ask, where are the town planners and architects?”

Continuing, Achebe urged the town planners to collaborate with the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) to layout the towns and ensure that buildings are designed to fit each layout.

Earlier in his speech, the National President of NITP, Mr. Luka Achi said the visit was to foster relations with the monarch on plans for the urban renewal project in Onitsha.

He noted that Onitsha and its satellite towns were covered by a structure plan prepared by the UN-Habitat, even though it is not implemented.

Achi, however, expressed concern over the indiscriminate citing of markets along the express road without commensurate motor parks and car parks.

He added: “The greatest problem of Onitsha is provision of critical infrastructure and quality space as well as inadequate urban infrastructure, management of urban solid wastes, provision of reliable urban water supply and ensuring maintenance of these critical urban facilities and infrastructure.”

The National President, who was represented by the first Vice National President, Mr, Lekwa Ezutah, urged the monarch to advice government to seriously review and implement the structure plan for Onitsha and other urban towns.

In an interview with News Express, the state chairman of NITP, Mr. Joachim Ulasi, said the institute had commenced sensitisation of town union President-Generals on the need to map out layouts for undeveloped plots.

He advised the state government on the need to commence the implementation of the structure plan by UN-Habitat for urban areas in the state.