‘Not Going to Plan’: Urban Planning, Flooding, and Sustainability in Port Harcourt City, Nigeria

Abstract

Flooding is the most widespread environmental disaster in Nigeria and flooding impacts are exacerbated by poor urban planning. Flooding is a direct impediment to Nigeria achieving its sustainable development goals (SDGs). While urban planners are responsible for implementing policy changes to address the issue of flooding, there is very little research that explores their views on the linkages between urban planning, flooding, and public policy. Using the city of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, as a case study, this paper presents data from interviews with practicing urban planning professionals. It argues that Port Harcourt’s urban planners have a sound understanding of principles of sustainability and are fully aware of the connections between poor urban planning and flooding. They do however see widespread public non-compliance with planning laws and improper building approvals, rather than systemic failures of governance, as the main issues that undermine the city’s legal and planning architecture put in place to control floods.