Ensuring compliance, accountability through public access to Nigeria’s building plan

BY SAMUEL JEKELI

The national building plan is a critical instrument for promoting safe, orderly, and sustainable urban development in Nigeria. It outlines building codes, zoning regulations, infrastructure requirements, and approval procedures designed to protect lives, preserve property, and guide the systematic use of land. Its existence reflects the government’s commitment to structured urban growth, public safety, and legal compliance in the construction sector. However, the plan remains largely inaccessible to the general public, with access predominantly limited to government offices, planning authorities, and registered professionals.

The limited accessibility of the national building plan generates a regulatory environment prone to harassment, arbitrary enforcement, and corruption. Property developers, homeowners, and aspiring investors often navigate building approvals without full knowledge of the applicable regulations. This opacity creates an environment where officials may impose unclear requirements, delay approvals unnecessarily, or request additional documentation without proper justification. In some instances, property owners face outright denial of approval for reasons that are never formally communicated. These practices not only erode confidence in government institutions but also undermine the primary objective of the building plan, which is to ensure safety, legality, and organised urban development.

Public access to the National Building Plan would significantly enhance compliance. Clear guidelines on building requirements, setbacks, zoning restrictions, and infrastructure standards would allow property owners and developers to plan and execute projects with confidence. Compliance would transition from a process dictated by fear of arbitrary enforcement to one rooted in knowledge, understanding, and voluntary adherence. Reduced uncertainty would limit the proliferation of informal practices and reliance on unverified interpretations of the regulations, thereby decreasing violations and conflicts with regulatory authorities.

Transparency is another vital benefit of public access. When regulatory standards are openly available, enforcement becomes uniform, predictable, and fair. Transparency reduces opportunities for selective application of rules and eliminates conditions that allow extortion and bribery to flourish. Property owners would no longer be compelled to rely on unofficial “guides” or intermediaries, which often result in misinformation, increased costs, and additional risks. Accessible and comprehensive information ensures that all stakeholders operate from the same knowledge base, creating a level playing field and fostering trust between citizens and government authorities.

Equally important is the accountability that stems from public accessibility. Documented, clearly communicated regulations hold both regulatory authorities and property developers responsible for their actions. Officials are constrained to act within codified standards, which limit discretionary practices, reduce opportunities for corruption, and promote ethical behaviour. Property owners and developers are empowered to comply fully, and any deviations or enforcement actions can be assessed against publicly available standards. This ensures that both citizens and regulators are answerable for their decisions, promoting fairness and integrity across the sector.

Globally, urban centres that make building regulations publicly available experience higher compliance rates, fewer disputes, faster approval processes, and improved urban planning outcomes. Countries that adopt this approach demonstrate that accessibility, transparency, and accountability are not merely theoretical principles but practical tools for efficient governance. Nigeria stands to achieve comparable benefits by ensuring that the national building plan is openly accessible, regularly updated, and clearly communicated to all stakeholders, including homeowners, developers, and construction professionals.

The societal and economic consequences of withholding public access are significant. Harassment, extortion, and arbitrary enforcement not only burden citizens financially but also create social tensions, erode public trust, and impede investment in the real estate and construction sectors. When property owners are unaware of the requirements, inadvertent non-compliance can result in fines, project delays, or legal disputes, which can disrupt livelihoods and hinder economic growth. Public access mitigates these risks by equipping citizens with the knowledge to comply and interact confidently with regulatory authorities.

Making the national building plan publicly available is also a moral and social imperative. It promotes fairness, reduces inequality in access to information, and ensures that citizens are not disadvantaged by opaque bureaucratic processes. Transparency and accountability are fundamental to ethical governance, and these principles should guide all public sector initiatives, especially those with direct implications for citizens’ lives and property.

The publication of the national building plan is necessary to strengthen compliance, ensure transparency, and promote accountability in urban development across Nigeria. It reduces opportunities for corruption, prevents harassment and arbitrary enforcement, and empowers citizens to exercise their rights to build legally and safely. Public access to the plan is not only a practical governance measure but also a critical step toward creating an organised, equitable, and sustainable urban environment. Transparent building regulations foster trust between the state and citizens, improve planning outcomes, and position Nigeria as a country committed to modern governance principles. For urban development to be orderly and citizens’ rights protected, the national building plan must move from restricted offices into public view.

Samuel Jekeli, a human resources professional, writes from FCT, Abuja.