Minna Metropolitan Urban Structures and its Vulnerability to Fire Hazard

Abstract

The occurrence of fire disaster in most urban centres in Nigeria is sometimes traceable to the spatial arrangement or organisation of space of urban landuse with reference to the location of urban structures. It is when urban landuse are satisfactorily located that an efficient urban structure can be seen. However, with absence of good urban structure, cities become vulnerable to one form of risk or the other. This study is aimed at assessing Minna urban structure in terms of its vulnerability to fire hazard. The result of the study reveals the existence of excessive clustering pattern of building and poor spacing. The organisation of buildings is likely to incapacitate the fire fighters efforts at the time of fire incidence for rescue operation. This addresses the need for risk assessment, action plan and programmes of preparedness against urban fire occurrences in the Nigeria urban centres.