Smart Urbanism Cuts Crime Rates by 40% – Nigerian Planner Says
Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 
ABEOKUTA, Nigeria – Smart urban planning significantly reduces crime in Nigeria’s major cities, cutting insecurity by up to 40 per cent where technology-driven systems are deployed, a leading town planning expert says.
The Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Studies at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Dr Kola Lawal, says cities such as Lagos and Abuja record measurable crime reduction following the adoption of smart urbanism strategies that integrate technology into urban design.
Speaking on Wednesday in Abeokuta at the investiture of Tpl Olusola Odukoya as chairman of the Ogun State chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Lawal said Smart urbanism combines tools such as Internet of Things sensors, data analytics, artificial intelligence, surveillance systems and intelligent street lighting to improve safety, efficiency and quality of life.
Lawal, a member of the NITP, warns that urban insecurity remains one of the most pressing global challenges, with Nigerian cities particularly exposed due to rapid population growth and weak planning frameworks.
He says security must be embedded in city master plans rather than treated as an afterthought.
“Urban planning and security management must work together. When security is built into planning and supported by multi-agency collaboration, outcomes become sustainable,” he adds.
In a goodwill message, Ogun State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Tpl Olatunji Odunlami, represented by Tpl Kamorudeen Ogunfowora, highlights the role of smart infrastructure, especially street lighting, in crime prevention.
“When everywhere is well-lit, security naturally improves,” Ogunfowora says, while lamenting vandalism of public lighting infrastructure.
Newly inaugurated NITP chairman, Tpl Olusola Odukoya, pledges professional development, capacity building and stronger engagement with government and the private sector to advance sustainable urban development.
About the Author
Mirian Gom 
Chukwu Obinna 
Oluwafunbi Bello