Towards Sustainable Measures for Urban Development to Improve City Conditions in Nigeria

Abstract

Sustainable measures for urban development have been neglected in Nigeria’s urban centres thereby making the cities unhealthy. The study identifies Onitsha, a city in Anambra state, South East of Nigeria, to have poor solid waste management and the most air polluted in the country. The aim of the study focuses on the assessment of sustainable measures employed in urban centres with the view to improve the air quality and solid waste management problems in Onitsha city with a reflection on other Nigerian cities. The purpose is solemnly aimed at making Nigerian cities healthy and sustainable. The research employed a content analysis to identify themes and organize qualitative data from the literature. First, data on 20 cities in the world and 12 cities of 12 states in Nigeria were identified with worst air quality, 10 countries with good air quality; and second, data on solid waste component generation and disposal in Onitsha were collected from 1997 to 2003 and 13 countries with sustainable waste management system were also collected. The results obtained indicate that Onitsha has the worst air quality in Nigeria, carrying 594 micrograms of PM10s (particles measuring 10 microns in diameter). The findings on solid waste indicate that population growth and commercial activities stand the major factors of solid waste generated in Onitsha. The other factor may be attributed to ineffective solid waste management system generated in the city. The study recommends adoption of sustainable measures in enhancing healthy Onitsha and other Nigerian cities with good air quality and solid waste management through implementing models of sustainable city, urban transportation, urban waste management, urban energy and resource use.