Peri-urban Settlements and Sustainable Land Management in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Urbanization causes urban expansion, dramatically transforming peri-urban environments and societies. In this process, rural lands are consumed by an expanding city, exploiting the large rent gap between agricultural and urban land. On the basis of the aforementioned reason, understanding peri-urban settlement growth is key to helping city managers develop strategies to curb undesirable development trends around the city’s periphery. To these ends, this study was undertaken to; determine change in land use within peri-urban settlements in the Port Harcourt Metropolis, examine factors responsible for land use changes and problems in the peri-urban areas of Port Harcourt, assess the environmental quality of peri-urban settlements, ascertain the effect of the personality variable (income level) on respondents’ perception of settlement quality, and assess the efficacy of existing regulatory policies and institutions regarding land management in Port Harcourt. The research design used was the Concurrent Triangulation Multisite Mixed Methods Design. This approach involves collecting quantitative and qualitative data to corroborate findings. Data was collected via questionnaire administration and interviews with planning agencies and key informants from the peri-urban settlement (land agents). In all, a total of 304 questionnaires were administered to respondents and the households were selected using systematic probability sampling while settlements were selected using purposive sampling. Analytical technique comprised univariate and bivariate analysis. Furthermore, Statistical test involved using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 21 in analysing cross-sectional data from four peri-urban settlements to uncover development drivers and to assess the challenges of these settlements. Another technique employed was map analysis.  One hypothesis was also tested in the study which states that there is no a correlation between income level of respondents and their perception of settlement quality. A two-tailed test of significance was conducted and the Spearman’s rho indicated a statistically significant relationship between income of respondents (M = 4.6, SD =1.6) and perception of settlement quality (M = 2.95, SD = 0.84), rs (304) = .87, p < .001, meaning that H0 will be rejected. Squaring the Spearman’s correlation coefficient revealed that 75.6% of the variance in respondents’ perception of settlement quality could be explained by the respondents income level.Furthermore, results show that development constraints imposed by planning institutions such as delay in plan approval and the allocation of Certificates of Occupancy, and the failure of the urban land market to meet housing needs go a long way to influence spatial development on the periphery of the city. In addition, there is the need to evolve programmes that engage local communities and utilize proper neighbourhood plans to curb uncontrolled development in the peripheral parts of Port Harcourt. The study thus concludes with the following recommendations; the use of an integrated approach to land-use management that combines public participation, proper expert systems and GIS in state policies, enactment of the state land use policy, proper implementation of the Rivers State Physical Development Law no. 6 of 2003, and the declaration of these areas as planning areas/preparation of planning schemes for emerging settlements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

        

 

 

 

 

K         Map of Greater Port Harcourt City                                                               167

J           Other Housing Characteristics                                                                       166

I           Other Respondent Bio-data/Other Household Characteristics                    164

H         Urban Growth Models                                                                                   163

G         Models of Peri-urbanisation                                                                           162

F          Peri-urban Development Drivers                                                                  161

            Development and Physical Planning                                                             159

E          Check List for Building Plan Approval in the Ministry of Urban

Applications in GPHCDA                                                                             157

D         Procedures for Submission of Building Plan for Full Approval

C         Interview Schedule for Community Key Informant/Land Agents               156

B         Interview Schedule for GPHCDA & MUDPP                                        155

A         Survey Questionnaire for Residents                                                             147

     Appendix                                                                                                                        Page

LIST OF APPENDICES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  4.3     Building Constructed Without Setbacks on Akas Road, Rumuekini                        97

  4.2     Waste Dump along Rumuekini – Aluu Road                                                 95

  4.1     Road conditions in Rumuekini and Ozuoba                                                   93

Plate                                                                                                                          Page

LIST OF PLATES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.36     Rating of Planning Agencies                                                                                      97

4.35     Satisfaction with Development Control Activities                                                     97

4.34     Awareness of Building Control Measures                                                                  97

4.33     Perception of Settlement Quality                                                                               96

4.32     Spatial Distribution of Streets                                                                                                96

4.31     Neighbourhood Crime Statistics                                                                                 96

4.30     Waste Disposal Methods in Four Peri-Urban Settlements                                         95

4.29     Neighbourhood Waste Management                                                                          94

4.28     Nuisance in Neighbourhood                                                                                       94

4.27     Road Conditions                                                                                                         93

4.26     Drainage Quality                                                                                                         92

4.25     Presence of Drainage                                                                                                  92

4.24     Quality of Water Supply                                                                                             92

4.23     Source of Water Supply                                                                                              92

4.22     Types of Toilet                                                                                                            91

4.21     Structural Condition of Buildings                                                                              89

4.20     Roofing Material                                                                                                         89

4.19     Number of Households in Building                                                                            89

4.18     Dwelling Type                                                                                                            88

4.17     Age of Buildings                                                                                                        87

4.16     Nature of Occupancy                                                                                                  87

4.15     Development Permit                                                                                                   86

4.14     Ownership Status                                                                                                        86

4.13     Annual Rent                                                                                                                86

4.12     Ease of Access to Land                                                                                              85

4.11     Trend in Spatial Expansion of Selected Peri-urban Settlements                                84

4.10     Map of Ozuoba Showing Land Use Change/Spatial Expansion                                83

4.9       Map of Atali Showing Land Use Change/Spatial Expansion                                                82

4.8       Map of Eliozu Showing Land Use Change/Spatial Expansion                                  81

4.7       Map of Rumuekini Showing Land Use Change/Expansion                                       80

4.6       Length of Stay in Settlements                                                                                                78

4.5       Ethnic Origin of Respondents                                                                                                77

4.4       Monthly Income of Respondents                                                                               77

4.3       Respondents Employment Status by Settlement                                                        76

4.2       Respondents’ Age Brackets                                                                                       76

4.1       Respondents Gender by Settlement                                                                           75

3.1       Concurrent Strategy of Triangulation                                                                         63

Projects                                                                                                                        34

2.6       Geographic Concept of European Peri-urbanisation as used in PLUREL

2.5       Built-up Property Formation Process in the Peri-Urban Areas                                   32

2.4       Land Management Paradigm                                                                                      28

2.3       Sustainable Infrastructure System Concepts and Theories                                         26

2.2       Peri-Urban Paradigms-Quality vs. Quality                                                                 20

2.1       Dynamics of the Peri-Urban: Urban Expansion                                                         20

1.4       Map of Port Harcourt Showing Selected Study Sites                                                            15

1.3       Rivers State, Showing the Study Area                                                                       14

1.2       Nigeria, Showing Study State and Area                                                                    14

1.1       Reference Framework for the Study                                                                          12

Figure                                                                                                                                   Page

LIST OF FIGURES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.1       Interview with Development Control Agencies                                                         118

Perception of Settlement Quality                                                                                99

4.18     Test of Hypothesis of Relationship between Income Level and

4.17     Perception of Settlement Quality                                                                                99

4.16     Respondent's Income                                                                                                  99

4.15     Descriptive Statistics                                                                                                   98

4.14     Management of New Development                                                                            98

4.13     Width of Road or Access                                                                                           94

4.12     Accessibility (Roads)                                                                                                  93

4.11     Public Facilities in Available in Building                                                                    91

4.10     Ratings of Building Conditions                                                                                  90

4.9       Floor Materials                                                                                                            90

4.8       Nature of Building Construction by Peri-Urban Settlement                                      88

4.7       Desirability of Sprawl                                                                                                 85

4.6       Trend in Spatial Expansion of Selected Peri-urban Settlements                                84

4.5       Cumulative Territorial Expansion Area of the Study Settlements                            83

4.4       Major Means of Transport to Work                                                                            80

4.3       Peri-Urban Settlements Household Size Cross Tabulation                                         79

4.2       Reason for Choice of Settlement                                                                                78

4.1       Respondents Sampled per Peri-Urban Settlement (Retrieved Data)                          74

3.2       Key Informants Interview List for the Study                                                                        72

3.1       Summary of Samples per Settlements                                                                        69

Table                                                                                                                                    Page

LIST OF TABLES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

APPENDICES                                                                                                                      147

REFERENCES                                                                                                                     133

 

Peri-Urban   Settlements                                                                                            131

6.2.1    Strategies for Promoting Sustainable Land Management Practices in

6.2       Recommendations                                                                                                                   131

6.1       Conclusions                                                                                                                129

CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.9       Summary of Findings                                                                                                 125

 

5.8.2    The Rivers State Physical Planning Development Law No 6. of 2003                      124

            Certificate-of-Occupancy (C of O)                                                                             123

5.8.1    Provisions of the Law - Development Control Conditions in the

5.8       Policy Issues                                                                                                               122

5.7.3    Stakeholders in Development Control Agencies                                                        118

            Measures                                                                                                                     117

5.7.2    Recommendations by Respondents on Improvement of Development Control

            Settlements                                                                                                                 116

5.7.1    Factors Responsible for Unauthorized Housing Development in the Peri-Urban

5.7       Comments                                                                                                                   116

5.6.5    Rating of Planning Agencies                                                                                      115

5.6.4    Management of New Developments                                                                          115

5.6.3    Residents Satisfaction with Development Control activities                                                  115

5.6.2    Awareness of Building Control Measures                                                                 114

5.6.1    Building Permits/Approval                                                                                        114

            Management Practices                                                                                                113

5.6       Assessment of Regulatory Policies, Development Controls and Land

5.5       Settlement Characteristics                                                                                          110

5.4.5    Nature of Building Construction                                                                                108

5.4.4    Number of Households Occupying Dwelling Units                                                  108

5.4.3    Dwelling Type                                                                                                            107

5.4.2    Age of Buildings                                                                                                        107

5.4.1    Nature of Occupancy                                                                                                  107

5.4       Nature/Problems of Peri-urban Settlements – Environmental Quality                      106

5.3       Perception of Sprawl                                                                                                  105

5.2.4    Spatial Expansion of Ozuoba Built-up Area                                                              104

5.2.3    Spatial Expansion of Atali Built-up Area                                                                   104

5.2.2    Spatial Expansion of Eliozu Built-up Area                                                                 104

5.2.1    Trend in Rumuekini Spatial Expansion of Built-up Area                                           103

5.2       Land use Changes in Peri-urban Settlements                                                             103

5.1.2    Major Drivers of Peri-urbanization of Rumekini, Eliozu, Atali and Ozuoba            101

5.1.1    Factors Responsible for Existing Peri-urbanisation in Port Harcourt                        101

5.1       Discussion of Main Findings                                                                                      101

CHAPTER 5: INTERPRETATION AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS

 

 

4.8       Test of Hypothesis                                                                                                        98

4.7       Development Control                                                                                                   97

4.6.3    Waste Management                                                                                                      94

4.6.2    Accessibility                                                                                                                 93

4.6.1    Drainage                                                                                                                       92

4.6       Settlement Characteristics                                                                                            92

4.5.2    Facilities and Services                                                                                                  91

4.5.1    Satisfaction with Structural Condition of Buildings                                                    90

4.5       Nature of Building Construction                                                                                  89

Settlement Characteristics                                                                                            85

4.4       Factors Responsible for Existing Peri-urbanization in Port HHhhhhHarcourt/

4.3       Land use Changes and Problems in Peri-urban Settlements                                        80

4.2.2    Household Characteristics                                                                                            78

4.2.1    Bio-Data of respondents                                                                                               75

4.2       Personal Characteristics of Respondents                                                                      75

4.1       Retrieval of Administered Questionnaire - Response Rate                                         74

CHAPTER 4: DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS

 

3.5      Data Limitations                                                                                                           73

3.4.2    Spearman Rank Correlation Formula                                                                           73

3.4.1    Justification for using Spearman’s Rank Correlation for Analysis                              72

3.4       Analytical Techniques                                                                                                  72

3.3.2    Key Informants Interview                                                                                           71

3.3.1    Techniques used for GIS Mapping                                                                               71

3.3       Data Source and Instrumentation                                                                                 70

3.2.2.2 Sampling                                                                                                                       69

3.2.2.1Verification of Sample Size                                                                                         67

3.2.2    Sample Size                                                                                                                  66

3.2.1     Process of Site Selection                                                                                              65

3.2       Population and Sampling                                                                                             64

3.1.3    Justification for using a Concurrent Triangulation Mixed Methods Designs              63

3.1.2    Concurrent Triangulation Mixed Methods Design                                                      62

 

3.1.1    A Multisite Mixed Methods Approach                                                                        62

3.1        Research Design                                                                                                          62

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY

2.3.1     Land use Dynamics in Peri-urban Areas                                                                     58

2.3        Empirical Review                                                                                                        56

 Sustainability of Land-use                                                                                           54

2.2.4.2  Science for Environment Policy (SEP) Indicator List for Monitoring

2.2.4.1  Indicators of Sustainable Land Management                                                              53

2.2.4     Challenges of Sustainable Land Management in Developing Countries                    50

2.2.3.2  Peri-urbanisation in Port Harcourt: Challenges                                                           48

 Cities                                                                                                                            46

2.2.3.1 Efforts Made at Tackling the Problems of Rapid Peri-urbanisation in Nigerian

2.2.3     Peri-urban land use Changes and Problems in Nigeria                                               45

2.2.2.6  Peri-Urbanisation in Africa                                                                                         43

2.2.2.5  Peri-urbanisation in South America (The South American Variant)                          41

2.2.2.4  Peri-urbanisation in East Asia (The Asian Variant)                                                    39

2.2.2.3 The PLUREL Projects                                                                                                 35

2.2.2.2 Peri-Urbanisation in Europe (The European Variant): The European Trends            33

2.2.2.1 North-American Variant                                                                                              33

2.2.2     Types of Peri-urbanisation: Peri-urban Variants                                                         33

2.2.1     Driving Forces Behind Peri-urbanisation                                                                    31

2.2        Review of Relevant Literature                                                                                    30

2.1.7     The study paradigm - Pragmatism                                                                               29

2.1.6     Models of Sustainable Land Management                                                                  26

2.1.5.2 The Urban Realms Theory                                                                                          24

2.1.5.1 Irregular/Organic Pattern Theory                                                                                24

2.1.5     Theories of Urban Structure                                                                                        23

2.1.4.1  Theory of Urban Attractiveness                                                                                  22

2.1.4     Theories and Models of Spatial Urban dynamics                                                       21

2.1.3      Peri-Urban Paradigms                                                                                                 20

2.1.2.1   Land Management                                                                                                      19               

2.1.2      Land Management and Sustainable Land Management Concepts                             19

2.1.1      Peri-Urban Concept                                                                                                    17

2.1       Conceptual/Theoretical Framework.                                                                           17

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

1.11.4  Indicator                                                                                                                      16

1.11.3   Environmental Quality                                                                                                16

1.11.2   Definition of Sustainable Land Management                                                             16

1.11.1   Definition of Peri-urban                                                                                              15

1.11      Definition of Terms                                                 15                                                                                         

1.10      Background Information about the Study Area                                                          13

1.9    ..................................................................................................    Structure of Dissertation                                                                                              10

1.8        Limitations to the Study                                                                                              10

1.7        Scope of the Study                                                                                                         9 

1.6        Justification of the study                                                                                               8                                                                                                             

1.5        Research Hypothesis                                                                                                     8

1.4       Research Questions                                                                                                        7                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

1.3       Aim and Objectives of the Study                                                                                   7                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

1.2            Statement of the Problem                                                                                              6                                                                                                                        

1.1            Background to the Study                                                                                               1

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION                                                                                          

 

List of Abbreviations                                                                                                              xvii

List of Appendices                                                                                                                 xvi

List of Plates                                                                                                                           xv

List of Figure                                                                                                                          xiii

List of Tables                                                                                                                          xii

Table of Contents                                                                                                                   vii

Dedication                                                                                                                              vi

Acknowledgement                                                                                                                  v

Certification                                                                                                                            iv

Declaration                                                                                                                              iii

Abstract                                                                                                                                  ii

Title Page                                                                                                                                i

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TABLE OF CONTENTS