Abstract

A new Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development has just been established in Ondo State, Nigeria. The development was expected to herald efficient and sustainable physical planning. To maximize the opportunities offered by this innovative development, some conditions are desirable. This paper therefore examined the problems confronting physical planning in the State and proffer appropriate solutions to unravel them with the intention of optimizing the gains arising from this innovation. The study involved a survey of physical planning mechanisms and agencies of governments responsible for physical planning in Ondo State. It investigated the evolution of physical planning in the state. Other variables examined include: human and financial capacity available for physical planning, development control process, master planning, inventory of project vehicles and equipment among others. The problems that were identified include lack of urban development policy, ineffective development control, inadequate/absence of capacity in appropriate discipline, dearth of spatial information and data and absence of master plan to guide the development of settlements in the State. The paper therefore canvassed for immediate evolvement of urban development policy coupled with series of legislations and regulations that would facilitate development control. Other recommendations include capacity building in relevant discipline, recruitment of staff with contemporary knowledge in urban planning, acquisition of spatial information and data for planning purposes and the immediate development of master plans for major settlements in the State.

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