The Challenges and Impacts of Implementing Development Control Regulations in Rural Settlements of Enugu State

ABSTRACT Implementation of development control regulations has many challenges and impacts in rural Enugu State of Nigeria. This study focuses on the challenges and impacts of implementing development control regulations in rural settlements of Enugu State. Development control in rural Enugu State is ineffective due to building developers’ little or non-compliance with contravention notices served on them. The planning authorities in Enugu State have lacked the needed development control mechanism or instruments for implementing development control regulations. The goal of this study is to examine the challenges and impacts of these regulations. The objectives of the study therefore are to: identify the forms of traditional and customary land tenure system in operation in the rural settlements; determine the level of planning awareness of local people (as measured by the awareness of the existence of planning authorities in their community); identify the factors responsible for ineffective development control implementation; ascertain the impacts, if any, of implementing development control regulations in rural Enugu State; and make recommendations based on findings. The study recommends, among others, formulation of development control regulations to integrate the traditional or conventional development control regulations, and traditional building/development practices into the modern planning and development control regulation standards in ensuring sustenance of people’s cultural heritage. The study areas included Nkanu West, Oji River and Udenu Local Government Areas. Data used in this study were collected from both primary and secondary sources. A sample of 400 copies of questionnaire was distributed to respondents using simple random sampling to collect primary data. 385 copies of the questionnaire were correctly filled and returned, representing 96.25%, response success rate. The second set of the questionnaire was distributed to the Chief Executives/Secretaries of the Planning Authorities. The secondary data were collected from books journals, government publications and internet search. Kruskal-Wallis H Test was used to test hypothesis and the result showed that development control regulations have significant impact on development in the rural settlements of Enugu State. The factors responsible for the ineffective development control include, among others, operation of traditional or customary land tenure system.