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Developing participatory planning for regenerating a slum area: A case of Makoko in Lagos, Nigeria
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Insinööritieteiden korkeakoulu |
Master's thesis
Electronic archive copy is available via Aalto Thesis Database.
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ENG3035
Language
en
Pages
67 + 6
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Abstract
As planning in Lagos shifts away from informal urban development and towards formal development, informal settlement residents are wary of the changes that will result from this approach. Studies shows that formal urban development in Nigeria's city of Lagos is derived and influenced by the colonial planning experience. As a result, decisions affecting local residents are often made without involving them in discussion. The aim of this study is to investigate residents’ participation in planning decision-making, using Makoko in Lagos as a case study. The case study was carried out through fieldwork, interviews (residents and key actors), and analysis of secondary data. The study also examines and brings the experience of participatory planning undertaken in Mathare in Nairobi, Kenya as a case from which to draw lessons.
The Makoko case shows that the slum development strategy is characterized by exclusion and deprivation. It is non-participatory and controlled by the government. The Mathare case reveals how participatory planning created opportunities for local residents to partake and collaborate with state and non-state actors. This study recommends a total paradigm shift from the government driven and top-down approach to people's participation-oriented approach. It recommends a pro-active role for non-governmental actors in developing settlement plans that safeguard the interests of local residents. The findings contribute to understanding how participatory planning can be used to engage local residents in addressing slum regeneration or redevelopment concerns in Lagos.