Urban planners’ perspectives of public participation in planning in Nigeria

Abstract

Public/community participation is globally recognized today as an integral aspect of urban planning. This is evident in various international, national, and local planning standards, regulations, and policies. This is no different in Nigeria where the various national and state level planning regulations incorporate this integral part of planning. This study investigates the extent of public participation in planning in Rivers State, Nigeria. Urban planners working in Rivers State were interviewed and academic papers on public participation in planning reviewed. This work finds that despite the mandatory legal provision for public inclusion in the planning process, it is largely not implemented in practice in the formal planning process. The lack of public participation in the planning process is a major reason for poor public support of plans which impacts successful execution. For Nigeria to achieve goals of having sustainable and vibrant urban communities, it is essential to begin implementing the planning laws which mandates public participation by meaningfully involving the public in urban planning processes. This will ensure a broader acceptance and instil a feeling of ownership of plans and processes among citizens which will enhance sustainable planning and development.

Public Participation in Architectural Heritage Conservation—The Case of Wooden Arch Corridor Bridge “Qiansheng Bridge”

“…Public participation is beginning to take off. Recently, several scholars [16,17] have found that the lack of public participation in the planning process is a significant cause of poor public support for planning, which affects the successful implementation of planning. The lack of discursive legitimacy in the planning system and the failure to embrace meaningful citizen participation in the planning process can undermine a plan's completeness.…”

Livability and Social Exclusion in African Cities: Reviewing Key Shaping Factors and Intervention Strategies

“…The beliefs of supposedly scientific and trained architects and planners, who frequently had an insufficient grasp of the colonies and countries they planned for, were reflected in African colonial and post-colonial urban planning, which prohibited public engagement and involvement (Cobbinah & Darkwah, 2017). Hence, inclusivity in urban planning procedures and practices is recently been agitated by urban residents and civil society organisations (Echendu, 2023). Dedication and purpose are required from government parties and other stakeholders who affect infrastructure policies and decisions, experts in urban planning and the built environment (ADB, 2022).…”