Development Control as a Tool for Urban Sustainability in SouthWestern Nigeria

Abstract

This paper examines the role of development control as a tool in ensuring urban sustainability in Southwestern Nigeria. 
The six states in the region were grouped into three (Lagos/Ogun, Osun/Oyo and Ondo/Ekiti). A state was randomly selected 
from each group. The study focused on the capital cities of three chosen states (Ogun, Osun and Ekiti). Data for the study 
were obtained from the professionals in the twenty planning agencies operating in Abeokuta (9), Osogbo (5), and Ado-Ekiti 
(6), respectively. Two professionals were selected from each agency for the interview. Data obtained were analysed using 
descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution, mean and percentages. In addition, content analysis was used to 
analyse the legislative tools for controlling physical development. The study found that development control provides 
appropriate mechanisms for orderliness and sustainable city development. It also established that National Physical 
Development Plan is a veritable tool for integrating the physical and spatial with the economic and social issues of national 
development planning. Despite the critical role of development control in making cities sustainably functional, its 
implementation in the southwestern region of Nigeria is confronted with some challenges, which include inadequate tools 
and equipment (7.7%), poor funding (7.4%), lack of master plan (6.9%), political interference (6.7%) and lack of data and 
information (6.6%). In order to achieve urban sustainability, the study, therefore, recommends that development plans 
should be prepared to channel the growth and development of cities. Also, appropriate development control mechanisms 
should be put in place and properly implemented in the southwestern region and in all the cities in Nigeria. The planning 
agencies in charge of development control must properly enforce development control to ensure adequate compliance and 
guarantee urban sustainability.