Federal Executive Council Approves Revised National Urban Development Policy To Transform Nigeria’s Urban Future

* NUDP, a critical milestone in Nigeria’s urban journey -  Dangiwa 

* Policy aligns with Renewed Hope Agenda,  SDGs obligations,  New Urban Agenda, Paris Agreement on Climate Change, AU Agenda 2063

In a landmark decision that underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to sustainable urbanisation, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the revised National Urban Development Policy (NUDP). 

The Policy provides a transformative framework to guide urban planning, development, and governance across Nigeria, over the next decade.

The revised policy, developed by the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development in collaboration with UN-Habitat and other key stakeholders, replaces the previous 2012 edition. It reflects the pressing realities of Nigeria’s urban challenges and the country’s global development commitments. 

The policy aligns closely with the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda as well as Nigeria’s obligations under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the New Urban Agenda, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, and the Africa Union Agenda 2063.

With over 70% of Nigeria's population projected to live in urban areas by 2050, the need for a new, integrated urban development framework has become urgent. 

The NUDP responds to this challenge by introducing a "business unusual" approach that departs from fragmented, reactive planning, and embraces proactive, inclusive, and long-term strategies. 

It recognises that effective urban development requires strong institutions, strategic leadership, and citizen participation.

A major focus of the policy is the strengthening of urban governance. It advocates for the creation of metropolitan commissions and regional planning bodies to manage Nigeria's fast-growing urban regions and conurbations that cut across administrative boundaries. 

This includes enabling a more coherent system of cities, improved intergovernmental coordination, and decentralised urban management structures.

In terms of social inclusion, the policy embeds a pro-poor, pro-vulnerable urban design philosophy. It calls for planning and development that prioritise women, youth, persons with disabilities, and the informal sector. 

By improving access to housing, infrastructure, public spaces, and basic services, the NUDP aims to create cities where all residents can live with dignity and opportunity.

Climate change is another critical pillar of the new policy. Nigeria faces escalating climate risks including flooding, drought, desertification, and extreme weather events. 

In response, the NUDP mainstreams climate resilience into urban planning. It promotes green infrastructure, nature-based solutions, renewable energy adoption, and spatial strategies like compact, walkable neighbourhoods-commonly known as the "15-minute city" model-to build cities that are not just liveable but also sustainable.

Equally important is the policy's emphasis on urban economic transformation. It positions cities as engines of economic growth, job creation, and diversification beyond oil. 

By promoting spatial efficiency, mixed-use development, and better integration of land use and transport systems, the NUDP seeks to harness the productivity and innovation potential of dense, well-connected urban centres. 

The policy also supports improved municipal finance systems to enable cities to raise more own-source revenues and reduce over-reliance on federal allocations.

Recognising the importance of technology and data in effective urban management, the policy encourages the adoption of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) mapping, and other digital tools to support evidence-based planning, land administration, disaster preparedness, and efficient service delivery.

To ensure success, the NUDP provides a clear implementation framework with defined roles for federal, state, and local governments. It calls for capacity building, public awareness campaigns, and strong partnerships with the private sector, academia, and civil society. 

Monitoring and evaluation mechanisms are embedded to ensure accountability and track progress.

The approval of the National Urban Development Policy (NUDP) marks a significant milestone and a major achievement for the Ministry. 

In addition to this success, the Ministry is actively advancing several other key initiatives, including the National Physical Planning Standards, which is currently undergoing extensive stakeholder engagement at various levels.

Another important initiative, the National Policy on Rural Settlements Planning and Development, seeks to address the challenges of rapid urbanization by identifying development gaps in rural areas and providing targeted solutions. 

This approach aims to reduce the pressure on urban centers by discouraging rural-to-urban migration through improved rural development.

Furthermore, a number of regional development plans are presently in progress across the country. These initiatives collectively demonstrate the Ministry’s strong alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, an agenda that prioritizes not only housing delivery but also the broader goal of sustainable urban development.

Speaking on the significance of the policy approval, the Honourable Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, stated:
"The NUDP is a critical milestone in Nigeria's urban journey. It provides us with a clear roadmap to plan and build cities that are productive, liveable, inclusive, and climate-resilient. With this policy, we are better positioned to harness the full potential of our urban spaces to drive national development and uplift the quality of life for all Nigerians."

The Ministry will immediately begin nationwide sensitisation and capacity-building engagements to support the effective rollout of the policy.
 
 

The NUDP document can be accessed on the Ministry’s website via https://www.fmhud.gov.ng/themes/front_end_themes_01/images/download/25060893318.pdf