Compliance with urban development and planning regulations in Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

This paper investigates the extent to which private residential development complies with urban development and planning regulations in the city of Ibadan, Nigeria. Findings indicate that while the average household is aware of the existence of planning regulations, this does not necessarily translate into compliance with these regulations. Further analysis reveals that the most violated aspects of building regulations are plot coverage, setback stipulations, room size, provision of utilities, as well as a change of use from a wholly residential use to the incorporation of home-based enterprises. The factors explaining the relatively low levels of compliance with these regulations include: the institutional context of urban development and planning regulations; the administrative machinery for physical planning implementation which does not make for inter-agency coordination; poverty of the general populace; and the disdain and apathy of the public towards formal planning institutions in the city. Finally, the paper calls for a reappraisal of urban development and planning regulations in Nigeria. This should entail modification of these regulations to take cognizance of present day realities and local conditions; review of existing land policy in order to remove the bottlenecks that hinder the smooth acquisition of land; improved inter-agency coordination among planning institutions; and public participation in the planning process.