Governing Nigerian Urban Centres

Abstract

Unprecedented rapid urbanization, coupled with ineffective service delivery, corruption and intensification of poverty among the urban population are major problems Nigerian governments at the Federal, State and Local levels have to overcome if the country is to make any headway in its development goals. The extent of rapid urbanization in the country can be viewed from the fact that the urban population currently stands at an estimated 43% of the total national population of 140 million people. In 1950, the percentage of total Nigerians living in the urban centres of more than 20,000 was less than15 per cent. The rapidity of urbanization in Nigeria, both in spatial and demographic terms, has not been met with an effective system of policy making with regards to urban planning. This has led to a rise in slums and ineffective service delivery systems in the cities.  A majority of Nigerians in the cities live in slums, without access to basic services such as housing, primary health care, pipe borne water etc. Service delivery has therefore become one of the most serious problems in the urban areas. The article argues that if these problems are to be overcome, a policy should be put in place to cart out a role for the Federal Government, reduce corruption through community driven checks and balances which will ensure effective citizen participation. Moreover, the local governments should have the skilled manpower to deal with the problems of urbanization

Key Words: Rapid Urbanization, Urban Governance, Service Delivery, Corruption, Accountability