ABSTRACT
The central area of any town or city is distinguished by its uniqueness in terms of location, function and more often than not by its physical form. It is however pertinent to know that the development of this part of the city has often defied planning solutions in the developing countries despsite some considerable measure of success that have been made in other aspects of physical planning. The manifestation of this problem is the healthy congestion in the central area of all our cities. The study goes to argue that there are ways to planning the central area in such a way that it can be relieved of its problems and this is demonstrated okoja, a town with a population of about 83,000 inhabitants. The aim is to develop an alternative approach to the conventional central area which usually encourages the agglomeration too many uses in the central area. The study logically follows the set down objectives to ascertain the possibility of making a better choice of site where the central area can be located now that the existing traditional centre is inadequate to meet the modern facilities or functions expected of it. Experiences of central areas of developed countries for example, America have shown that an adoption of a design for a central area in one country, cannot be duplicated in another country due to diversity in culture, government policy and economy. Nevertheless, much can be learned from the design of one central area by planner in other environmemts. The existing situation study of Lokoja reveals some mounting difficults and topographical disabilities which can only be overcome by a strategic planning effort. On this basis the reseach advances the reasons for special decentralizaion of some major functions as against centralization. The proposed design plan for the central area is conceived as a pedestrain precinct, the principle which would not only eliminate traffic congestion but would also restore orderliness and peace. And with the decentralization of functions like traditional market, residentials, potrol filling station and big religious worship structures much sernity is gained and functionality is seriously enhanced. It is proposed that the implementation of such a plan be meticulously phased for the purpose of effective execution. The researcher also recommended that the financial implementation of the plan be sourced possibly from either or a combination of Federal government, Banks, private organization and the state government. The achievement of this however, enables a further objective search for a conserved central areas of our cities.