Urban Public Spaces and Associated Environmental Challenges in Nigeria: A Review

Abstract

This paper attempts to examine the broader environmental challenges affecting the establishment and utilization of urban public spaces in Nigeria. As the rate of depletion of these spaces is so alarming in the country, this work adapts the systematic review of relevant literature focusing largely on the level/state of destruction or otherwise of urban public spaces elsewhere; with high hope of understanding and arresting/addressing the situation in Nigeria. The major findings of this work reveal that ecological zones and climatic conditions of a given area greatly influenced the state of urban public spaces in the country. However, the main challenges uncovered include; rapid urbanization, low resource base institutions or authorities, lack of priority given to the establishment and maintenance of such spaces among others. The paper finally suggests that good policies and planning; quality transport network; good drainage network; provision of healthy habitat; improved maintenance culture and opening up of more public spaces be adhered to in order to address the challenges.