Regional Development Planning in Nigeria: The General and Particular

Abstract

The failure of the country's planning machinery (which has been dominated by economists), to recognize the spatial diversities and complexities in the cultures, peoples and material resources of the country justifies the need for regional planning and a sound regional development policy and framework for the country. Going through history of the country, however, this paper finds out that regional planning has not been really embraced, notwithstanding the fact that such attempts as categorization of cities, creation of administrative units and unconscious establishment of regions like river basins, Niger-Delta, among others, have been made. The paper, however, recognizes the fact that regional plans have been witnessed in such places as Lagos and Abuja. Using Abuja as a case study the value of regional plan is appreciated; while at the same time, the paper frowns at its implementation with reference to the discrepancy between the planning areas of the plan and the established area councils, as well as delay of the plan's review. The paper, therefore, calls for a prompt review of Abuja plan, and proposes a national framework for regional planning in the country. The framework adopts the existing six geo-political zones as regions whose problems, activities, development, yardsticks, etc are to be determined and coordinated by their respective Regional Councils to be established according to the model.