THE IMPACT OF INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS ON URBAN PLANNING IN NIGERIA (A CASE STUDY OF UCCDA)

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Informal settlement (IS) also known as a slum or dumpy settlement is expound in numerous ways based on the planning and legal framework of a country where it lives. Informal settlements will be defined based on the goal and aim of theis study as residential buildings built on “planned” and “unplanned” areas which do not have formal planning approval. Also, it can be explained as the residential areas where a number of residents have no security vis-à-vis the land or dwellings they live in. into the bargain, it is considered as the neighbourhoods where housing and living conditions are disheartening and lacking, or are cut off from basic services and city infrastructure [1]. They are described and distinguished mostly by the low quality houses and the lack of inadequate infrastructure and social services. These concept rhyme with [2,3] understanding of IS both as a problem and solution to housing needs in swift growing cities of numerous developing countries like Nigeria the settlements have been grouped into two types which includes the unlawfully occupied settlement and the illegitimate developed settlements. It is of particular interest that unlawfull occupation of land by squatters is distinct with government acquired land for diverse reasons including fast rate of urbanisation. As expected, in a lot of cities of Africa, of which Lagos is not excluded, swift urban growth is occurring in the face of economic sluggishness or low economic growth, advancing unemployment, financially weak municipal or local government authorities, poor governance, and the absence of logical urban planning policy [4]. Under such conditions, structural reform, currency depreciation and state downsizing, swift urban growth has been an unavoidable recipe for the mass production of shanty and informal settlements [5].

There are numerous factors that could justify the rapid growth of informal settlements in cities of a lot of developing countries of the world. With specific reference to Nigeria, [9] opined that the single factor that has influenced land market and consequently land accessibility more than anything else is the Land Use Act of 1978. To this end, the operation of the Act has unintentionally led to two types of land markets including the formal land market through government agencies and informal land market operated by land owning families. Within the formal land market, it is possible to monitor that the criteria for allocation are exclusively and only a very small portion of upper income earners apparently had access to land. Visibly, this confirm the view that the regulatory framework governing the delivery of planned residential land in a number other African countries of which Nigeria is not excluded may in point of fact make easier the development of informal settlements through complex administrative procedures that make access to land not only difficult for low income households but at a price that is unaffordable [10, 11]. Given this framework, it could be put forward that low-income households sourcing to obtain land for housing would not want to go through the backbreaking task of land acquisition processing. Therefore, under the existing conditions, the direct implication is that most prospective low-income families face several possible options including non-convectional construction of legalized housing on marginal land while breaching confining standards and regulations. A situation that is irritated by the household dependence on family labour and artisanal techniques for construction, because of non-availability of mortgage or any other subsidized finance. The outcome is development of informal settlement that is distinguished by missing fundamental facilities, cram-full inhabitance and overstretching of housing amenities. Other linked factors that provoke success of informal settlement include failure of government to pay compensation as a result of the experience of shortage of financial resources, abandonment of project and incessant change in government personnel. These factors most times hinder government to put the lands obtained in public interest into use hence making such land sensitive for encroachment by unlawful occupiers. In addition, at the base of informal sector is the problem of poverty. In fast growing countries, cities, Lagos inclusive, land in the formal market remains expensive for the urban poor.

 

Rapid urbanisation has been seen to be a main quality of development with the after effect of informal settlement in Nigeria due to the ill preparation of government for the consequences of urbanisation. This insistence endorse [13] observation that the frailty of government planning controls leads to unsystematic development that creates disorganised and unhealthy urban environment in Nigeria cities that quickened a number of renewal programme which point at enhancing and making better the living conditions in these areas. Irrespective of this effort, the informal sector comprises a significant channel of urban land delivery and housing as only 20-40% of the physical development in Nigerian cities is carried out with formal government approval.

Urban centres all around the world display an beyond belief diversity of attribute, economic structure, levels of infrastructure, historical origins, patterns of growth and degree of formal planning. Yet, numerous problems they face are remarkably close related. But in developing countries, specifically in Africa, urban residents suffer to a large extent from serious environmental and health challenges linked will inadequate access to clean drinking water, insufficient sewage facilities and solid waste disposal (United Nations 2003).

Poor urban planning in the face of fast growing urbanization is for that reason seen as one of the vital problems attacking various urban areas in Nigeria, and this was mainly caused as a result of informal settlement.

 

1.2 Problems of the study

There are numerous factors that could justify the rapid growth of informal settlements in cities of a lot of developing countries of the world. With specific reference to Nigeria, [9] opined that the single factor that has influenced land market and consequently land accessibility more than anything else is the Land Use Act of 1978. To this end, the operation of the Act has unintentionally led to two types of land markets including the formal land market through government agencies and informal land market operated by land owning families. Within the formal land market, it is possible to monitor that the criteria for allocation are exclusively and only a very small portion of upper income earners apparently had access to land. Visibly, this confirm the view that the regulatory framework governing the delivery of planned residential land in a number other African countries of which Nigeria is not excluded may in point of fact make easier the development of informal settlements through complex administrative procedures that make access to land not only difficult for low income households but at a price that is unaffordable [10, 11]. Given this framework, it could be put forward that low-income households sourcing to obtain land for housing would not want to go through the backbreaking task of land acquisition processing. Therefore, under the existing conditions, the direct implication is that most prospective low-income families face several possible options including non-convectional construction of legalized housing on marginal land while breaching confining standards and regulations. A situation that is irritated by the household dependence on family labour and artisanal techniques for construction, because of non-availability of mortgage or any other subsidized finance. The outcome is development of informal settlement that is distinguished by missing fundamental facilities, cram-full inhabitance and overstretching of housing amenities. Other linked factors that provoke success of informal settlement include failure of government to pay compensation as a result of the experience of shortage of financial resources, abandonment of project and incessant change in government personnel. These factors most times hinder government to put the lands obtained in public interest into use hence making such land sensitive for encroachment by unlawful occupiers. In addition, at the base of informal sector is the problem of poverty. In fast growing countries, cities, Lagos inclusive, land in the formal market remains expensive for the urban poor.

 

1.3 Objectives of the study

The aim of this study is to examine the impact of informal settlements on urban planning in Nigeria (A case study of UCCDA).

 

The objectives are:

  1. Analyzing the factors that justify the advancement and expansion of informal settlement in the study area, analyzing the importance of reclamation strategy as a means of integrating informal settlement to the existing planned area and examining the policy implications of regeneration of informal settlement to sustainable urban development and planning.
  2. The objectives tend to examine the factors that determine the evolution of informal settlements in urban areas of Nigeria as a developing country.
  3. Examine the best interventionist approach to informal settlement upgrading.
  4. Examine the policy implications of informal settlements regeneration for a sustainable urban development and planning.
  5. Improve the living conditions of informal settlements with a view to enhancing quality of life of dwellers.

 

1.4 Research Questions

  1. What are the factors that justify the evolution of informal settlement in the study area, analyzing the importance of reclamation strategy as a means of integrating informal settlement to the existing planned area and examining the policy implications of regeneration of informal settlement to sustainable urban development and planning?
  2. What are the factors that determine the evolution of informal settlements in urban areas of Nigeria as a developing country?
  3. What is the best interventionist approach to informal settlement upgrading?
  4. What are the policy implications of informal settlements regeneration for a sustainable urban development and planning?
  5. How can the living conditions of informal settlements with a view to enhancing quality of life of dwellers be improve?

1.5 Research Hypothesis

H0: Poverty and social exile does not have a significant impact on the critical factors causing the formation of informal settlements.

1.6 Significance of the Study

        This study will be of great importance as it will provide necessary information on the causes, effects and means to curtail or reduce informal settlement on urban planning in Nigeria. Apart from providing means and strategy for curtailing informal settlement on urban planning in Nigeria, this study will also advocate for practical and conscientious moves towards creating awareness on informal settlement on urban planning in Nigeria, their negative effects on lives and properties and the society at large. In practical terms, the findings of this study will bring to the fore; the inadequacies, deficiencies, flaws and other problems inherent in the enforcement of the informal settlement on urban planning in Nigeria.

        This study is also aimed at analyzing the impact of informal settlement on urban planning in Nigeria. The government and other policy makers will also find this work very handy in an attempt to find solutions to this problem. Similarly, this work will also assist law enforcement agencies in their bid to abate informal settlement on urban planning in Nigeria. And finally, this research will serve as veritable source of reference for students and researchers and those in related discipline for further research.

1.7   Scope of the Study

        This study is on the impact of informal settlements on urban planning in Nigeria (A case study of UCCDA).