AbstractThe growth, development and sustenance of urban area in Nigeria rely largely on various urban renewal projectsexecuted by the State through both public and private institutions. Such projects serve as catalyst for improvingthe physical look of the environment and more importantly for sustenance of human survival. In order to achievean orderly environment that is devoid of environmental hazards, it is most importantly to ensure that urbanrenewal projects are carried out in accordance with laid out planning laws existing in the Country. The focus ofthis paper is on the implications of urban and regional planning laws on urban renewal projects carried out inAkure between 2007 and 2012. These projects spread across various parts of the town and each of the projectswas identified to assess their compliance with the regulations. It was discovered that despite the agitation for theimplementation of urban and regional planning laws in the state, the level of adherence to planning standards andregulations is very low in urban renewal projects, particularly in existing projects that were upgraded. Suggestionwas made that if planning legislations were followed in implementing urban renewal projects, it will ensuredignity and remove the intrigues attract to implementing urban and regional planning programmes and it willalso go a long way in ensuring sustainability of every urban renewal projects in Akure and Nigeria as a whole.

ABSTRACT

The rate of urbanization is on the increase around the world, however, urban population growth, particularly in developing world, has not been matched with investment and their required infrastructure and services. The nature and character of cities are determined by the adequacy of planning and management approach. Land use planning is a schematic approach of achieving orderly use of land, particularly in urban areas. It is thus a deliberate and arranged set of ways and means for achieving a particular goal and objectives, which are more often than not, is in the positive direction. In a country like Nigeria where human demand continuously outstripping the available land resources, the need arise to control the city development, particularly the challenges they face in ensuring urban sustainability. Also re-planning of cities including the natural resources has become necessary in other to sustain liveabilty and maintain the goal of urban and regional planning in Nigeria. It is in view of this that the need arise to examine the city liveability of Lagos Metropolitan area with a view of finding solution to those challenges faced in meeting the aim of ensuring an environment fit for living working and recreation. Existing problems identified in the paper are classified into physical/environmental, cultural/sociological, managerial and legislative problems. Efforts towards sustainable development in other parts of the world are examined upon which suggestions are presented on how liveability can be achieved in Metropolitan Lagos. Among the specific suggestions for the paper include the development of infrastructure that meet the present status of the metropolis and proper community management.

ABSTRACTThe need for adequate and decent housing is now part of the central focus and an integral component in Nationalstrategies for growth and poverty reduction. Decent and affordable housing is one of the basic needs ofindividuals, family and the community at large. As a pre-requisite to the survival of man, housing ranks secondonly to food. Housing as a unit of the environment has a profound influence on the health, efficient, socialbehaviour, satisfaction and general welfare of the community at large. It reflects the cultural, social andeconomic value of the society as it is the best physical and historical evidence of civilization in a country. Theimportance of housing in every life of human being and in national economy in general is enormous. Housingproblem in Africa especially in Nigeria is not only limited to quantities but also qualities of the available housingunits environment. It is in view of this that the paper views the challenges of housing delivery in the LagosMetropolis. This was done by carrying out the inventory of housing delivery mechanism in Metropolitan Lagosin the past. Factors affecting housing delivery were also analyzed. It was discovered that land play a major rolein ensuring effective housing delivery. The paper suggests that government need to pay urgent attention to allinstitutions that is responsible for housing delivery in ensuring that everybody has access to a decent place ofabode.Keywords: Housing Delivery, Housing Sector, Shelter, Urban Land, Urbanization

ABSTRACT One of the sectors of the Nigerian economy which have grown consistently and progressively is the informal sector activities. The growth has been linked with their necessities or to what urban economists will refer to as high demand for their services. Although, there are no reliable data on the number of people engaged by the sector in the cities in Nigeria, it is evident that the number is huge. In Lagos State, the scenario is not different. Indeed, it is at a larger scale. The character, status and location of the State in the geographic and economic setting of Nigeria has further enhance activate the sector in the state. They are found in various locations within the State. It is an attempt to enhance the activities with regard to proper urban land use planning that necessitated the need for a research in this direction and forms the basis of this paper. The findings of the paper show that by their nature, the native of the activities in which they engaged are ancillary or partially manufacturing/processing related. Some are even service based. The volume of employment and trade generated by their activities therefore, made it necessary that physical planning efforts be made to enhance activities in the sector. This becomes very apposite when it is realized that their activities have serious implication on land use pattern and the general human settlements structure. It is worthy to note that the sector is dominated by the poor, as activities in the sector do not necessarily require huge capital either as start up or operation. As a way of tackling the problem, one of the recommendations is the promotion of small and medium scale enterprises and urban informal activities.

ABSTRACTAgricultural practices have environmental effects that affect a wide range of other land uses such asresidential, transportation, commercial land use, etc. Understanding the contribution of variousagricultural practices to the range of other land uses would help inform choices about the mostbeneficial agricultural practices. This study used stratified random technique in selecting of therespondents (farmers, rulers, market women and residents) for the study. The data was analysedwith the use of descriptive statistics and chi-squared analytical method for the bivariate analysis.The result revealed that more than half of the respondents are farmers. The paper suggest that landuse zoning, improve transportation, technological innovation, provision of agricultural input at asubsidized rate and awareness of the negative impact of the activity by the government will improveagricultural practice and land use planning in Nigeria.

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