ABUJA – The 2014 Architects’ Colloquium has urged government at all levels to come up with policies which would preserve the cultural heritage of cities during urban renewal processes.
This is contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the colloquium and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.
The communiqué signed by the colloquium’s Director, Mr Jimoh Faworaja, called for rehabilitation and re-modelling of old cities in Abuja instead of demolition, in order to achieve urban renewal.
“For these recommendations to be actualised, there is the need to address the shortfall in the employment of architects at the federal, state and local governments levels,’’ it said.
The communique said the employment of architects at all levels of government would sustain urban renewal.
“For the Nigerian-built environment to achieve an acceptable level of sustainability, government and relevant professional bodies should form a core foundation group.
“The core foundation group will ensure the ultimate aim of promoting Building Integrated Photovoltaic Systems and Renewable Energy Technology,’’ it said.
The Colloquium also called for a full implementation of the resolutions of the seven preceding colloquia by governments.
“In order to tackle the challenges and achieve the intended objectives of the Nigeria Development Agenda, the colloquium called for full implementation of the resolutions of the seven preceding colloquia,’’ it said.
The statement said the Abuja masterplan should be subjected to periodic reviews between five to 10 years to effectively accommodate evolving needs.
It said government should set up an Abuja development review committee which would involve all stakeholders to analyse development flaws and proffer appropriate solutions for implementation.(NAN)
