This paper studies physical planning perspectives to poverty alleviation and local economic development in Nigerian cities. Major issues examined include the proliferation of slums, citizen participation and globalization as they affect urban and regional planning practice and the consequences for both environmental and economic development. It was discovered that environmental degradation and urban congestion can be controlled when the poverty level of the people is reduced. LED initiatives serve as opportunities for the planner to practice bottom-up planning as against the Top-down planning of traditional approaches. It is also important for planners to take into consideration the economic status of those they are planning for. Globalization presents new economic opportunities and risks for cities, regions and nations, therefore the contemporary planner must ensure that new town development and urban regeneration exercises be aimed at developing globally competitive, visitor and business friendly communities. Recommendations include leverage planning, economic development services and advocacy.

The planning and implementation of projects should consider economic, environmental and physical impacts. The absence of such considerations has at times led to loss of human lives and in most cases environmental degradation among other things. This study aims at investigating and evaluating the effects of the dualisation of Owode-Onirin - Ikorodu road on Ikorodu town and the road itself. The objectives are to examine the land use characteristics of Ikorodu town before the dualisation and the demographic and land use effects of the dualisation. Additionally, it is to determine the social, economic and environmental/ecological impact(s) of the dualisation on the road and the people and fabric of Ikorodu town. Questionnaires and interview guides were used in this research (with necessary secondary data) to elicit relevant information. The study reveals that there was a definite increase in land value at Ikorodu town and along the road corridor coupled with a major transition in land use type. It also revealed a remarkable increase in the traffic volume with noise generated along road corridor and a positive shift in the social activities as revealed by evolution of churches and educational institutions. Ikorodu town also experienced a population surge. Proper land use and traffic control is one of the major recommendations, which emanated from this research.

This research aimed at exploring the extent to which Local Economic Development (LED) - a fairly recent concept towards poverty alleviation - had been embraced in Odigbo LGA of Ondo State, Nigeria. The objectives were to identify the available economic resources; investigate the activities of both government and NGOs/CBOs; identify problems and prospects of LED activities and the impact of such activities on the people’s standard of living. The study revealed among other things that more than half of the non-governmental efforts were initiated by Community-Based Organisations with the award of loans being the major strategy employed. It also revealed that government’s efforts have been mainly in the area of infrastructural provision in certain areas. The two hypotheses tested revealed that credit loans have improved the economy of the beneficiaries and that there was a significant difference in the contribution of various LED strategies with the award of loan standing out as the major contributor. Recommendations include the development of a guiding policy to aid LED activities and that a major resource (Bitumen) found in the area be tapped to improve the standard of living of the people.

The problem of solid waste management has been in existence for long in Lagos metropolis. The rate at which solid waste is generated on daily basis has become an embarrassment to various governments of the State. The situation has never been of such critical nature. The current government seems to be at work again in the process of solving this problem. This paper examines the basic concept of sustainable development and highlights some of the relevant issues when solid waste management is discussed. It goes on to expose particular solid waste management situations in Lagos metropolis with reference to studies carried out in selected Local Government Areas of the State using random sampling techniques. An overview of the past and existing institutional framework for solid waste management in Lagos metropolis was done. Non-collection of waste, funding problems and issues of landfill areas were revealed as some of the major problems of waste management in the metropolis. Recent efforts by the government towards attaining the goal of sustainable solid waste management are pointed out. The paper concludes with elaborate recommendations that include the involvement of the people, the government and the private sector in the management of waste. We believe this will not only lead to making Lagos a cleaner and more beautiful city but will also enhance waste management in other cities in Nigeria.

The profession of Urban and Regional Planning is about making the environment conducive for human habitation. The environment is seen in form of settlements with varying degrees of complexity. Certain settlements such as the city have grown to become complex systems within which cybernetic interactions occur (Mcloughlin, 1969). The use of computers aid the exchange of information between global cities through the use of internet. Beyond the use of computers to communicate and obtain ideas and information, virtually all activities are carried out in recent time with the aid of the computer. The Urban and Regional Planner needs to carry out several professional tasks, which continue to increase with series of emerging trends. In the light of advancement, planning has become a multifaceted discipline (having gone beyond the drawing board profession) with the Town Planner’s assistance required in almost every field of life. In order to move along with other professionals, and to supply information in the form that will be useful to them, the Town Planner needs to be acquainted with the use of the computer and the various relevant software. This paper discusses ways in which the use of computers has aided the Urban and Regional Planning profession, thereby highlighting the need to embrace computer literacy in the planning profession.