Effective Urban Management and Governance for Sustainable Cities in Nigeria in the 21st Century

Abstract

The objectives the paper sets out to achieve include examining the prevailing state of urban management and governance in Nigeria. They include looking into the bases (policy, legislative etc.) of managing and governing urban areas as well as outlining the relevant requirements and characteristics of sustainable humanlurban settlements. It recommends appropriate measures fofachieving effective urban Management and governance in Nigeria in the 21st Century. . The paper reveals that virtually all our existing cities are unsustainable. It points out the tact that they can either be made sustainable or new sustainable ones built. The presence of numerous agencies with duplicate functions in our cities, adoption of inappropriate planning methodologies, lack of vision Ior the sort of cities we desire. absence/inadequate provision of urban services, poverty. urban environmental problems. lack of political will-power etc. are idenhlied as the bane of urban management problems and governance for sustainable cities in the country. The paper points out the need Ior and the importance of urban visions. It enumerates both the marks, pre-requisites of sustainable cities and finally recommends appropriate measures and strategies to facilitate effective urban management and governance for sustainable cities in the 21st Century.