ABSTRACT
Public participation has not only, emerged as a key concept in planning and development studies, but also as a major planning objective. This can be seen in the vast literature written about the concept and the increasing attempt to institutionalise the concept. There has been the tendency to see public participation as a necessary prerequisite for successful development. The argument is that since development lies with the improvement of the public well-being participation in Nigeria has remained at the level of rhetorics due to the top-down model of planning and development adopted in the country. The model has made participation to be as difficult as its necessary making the public to be dissatisfied with plans and programmes designed for them. The study examines the role, concept and process of public participation, as well as the activities of development associations in Katsina. The study tried to find how people as a group are involved in the urban physical development process. Various organised groups were examined in Katsina and the result indicated very minimal or poor participation with regards to government formulated programmes. The top-down model of planning assumes that public involvement is not necessary or crucial in the development process. The study found-out that despite the contributions of development associations, they are not involved in the initiation and execution of government plans. Public participation in aided projects is fair, limits of the joint involvement as well as the problems associated with aided projects were discussed. The Non-aided projects are less capital intensive simple projects and it recorded the highest level of public participation. Problems of the non-aided projects were highlighted. Problems and prospects for public participation in urban physical development were identified. Principles, techniques and approaches are given towards improving and sustaining public participation. An institutional framework has been worked out for the implementation of the recommendations. The study further recommended strategies for integrating group participation in the urban physical development process in Katsina town.