AN ANALYSIS OF THE PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE "WATERFRONT SETTLEMENTS REDEVELOPMENT SCHEME" IN PORT HARCOURT

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Department of Environmental Design

ABSTRACT
Squatter settlements in cities is a phenomenon in most countries experiencing urbanisation. Efforts have been made to eliminate them through housing policies which include urban renewal schemes. Urban renewal schemes have been in the form of conservation, rehabilitation, upgrading and site and services, and redevelopment. The adoption of any of these strategies depends on the degree of degeneration, the purpose and available resources. The redevelopment strategy has been used without a considerable rate of success in Nigeria. Such low level of success has been recorded in the Port Harcourt's waterfront redevelopment scheme. The resultant problems have motivated this study. The aim was to investigate the problems with the planning and implementation of the Port Harcourt's Waterfront Settlements redevelopment Scheme and the explanatory factors. The scheme was examined by administering questionnaire to the beneficiaries of the redeveloped settlements and residents of existing squatter settlements using the probability and a 'simplified' non-probability sampling techniques respectively. The key informant approach and personal observation were also used in collecting data about the planning and implementation process, and the environmental condition. Relevant literature were also consulted. viii Problems identified were basically that of unconventional process of planning and implementation of the scheme; inadequate administrative machinery and finance; lack of public participation; and the absence of an enabling legislation. Resistance to the further implementation of the scheme by residents of the slum settlements is due to the insufficient number of dwelling units provided and the limitations in the procedure of allocating the dwelling units. As the first step towards the success of the redevelopment scheme, recommendations were made for adequate legislation. The proposals also include rehabilitative measures aimed at improving the redeveloped settlements; and preventive measures directed at discouraging the proliferation of slum-squatter settlements. The specific roles of the public and private sectors towards the effective implementation of the scheme were identified. Recommendations were also made to re-orient the beneficiaries and strengthen the local institutional capacity for a sustained renewal of the settlements.