THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN URBAN MASTERPLAN

(A CASE STUDY OF Maiduguri)

By

Author

Presented To

Department of Environmental Design

ABSTRACT
Master plans the world over have been employed among other physical development plans by planners to achieve planned urban environment. Master plans provide functional, efficient and aesthetically beautiful physical environment when effectively implemented. In Nigeria, tremendous efforts have been employed in Master plan preparation; where about 300 of such exists; with little or no achievement of the desired goals have continued to experience sporadic growth, physical degeneration of the environment with consequent unhealthy Slum conditions. Maiduguri, the largest town and a State Capital only had a Master plan prepared for it in 1976 to guide its growth and development for a ten-year plan period (1977 to 1987). However, at the end of the plan period, the Maiduguri Master Plan has not recorded any remarkable success in terms of its implementation. This has resulted to continued uncontrolled and chaotic growths, poor environmental condition and weak economic base contrary to intended goals and objectives of the Master Plan. The study therefore, attempts to examine the major problems of implementing the Master Plan aimed at making adequate proposals to tackle the problems identified. Evaluation techniques of goal achievement Matrix (G.A.M.) and Weighted Average Score Technique (W.A.S.T.) as well as cost analysis were used to evaluate the plan in relation to its adequacy for implementation or otherwise. Essential elements, variables and sequence of actions in plan implementation process also served as criteria for the appraisal. At the end the findings,of the study revealed the following: that although the preparation of the Master Plan was undertaken by foreign consultants, the evaluation showed that the proposal of the plan was adequate enough for implementation,given efficient planning and effective implementation strategies. It also revealed that while plan formulation is the sole responsibility of a single agency, (Ministry of Lands and Surveys), Implementation involves a multiple of agencies, departments,corporations, Boards as well as private firms and individuals. An appraisal of some major proposals of the Master Plan revealed varied actions and out-comes of their implementation. It was observed, the implementation of the city centre district plan especially the redevelopment of the Monday Market was relatively successful. This however has not been attributed to concious interventions of planning actions. Site and service scheme developments were partially implemented. It was strongly established that the absence of an effective and efficient planning framework or administrative machinery independent of the bureaucratic system has not guaranteed effective planning and implementation of the Master Plan and the desired Urban development of the state at large. The ineffective implementation has been further aggravated by the existence of numerous implementing agencies with conflicting roles and responsibilities, undefined powers and functions, relative to implementation.' A very weak economic base of the State and the poor revenue generation of the planning agency over years has further compounded the problem of implementation of plans effectively. Other problems identified include bureacratic time delays and lack of professional man-power. Also identified as a problem that has affected effective implementation is the wrong approach to planning and plan implementation process. Disjointed and or incremental approach to plan implementation has been characteristic of the actions of the planning agency instead of conceiving plan implementation as a continuous process with no 'terminal'. It revealed that the process of implementation even if properly comprehended has not been conciously employed in the implementation of the Maiduguri Master Plan. To adequately address the central problem of implementation identified above, a proposal for the setting up of a State-Wide Institutionalized body, Borno State Urban Planning and Development Authority (BOSUPDA) has been made. To achieve maximum efficiency, organizational principle of delegation of powers and functions, a 3-Tier level of Authorities: the highest being a State Planning and Technical Committee (S.P.T.C.) or the Executive level Authority, the second a Zonal Area Development Offices (Z.A.D.O.), and the lowest level, with Local Planning Authorities (L.P.A.'s). The proposal takes into consideration the diverse nature of planning and development itself being encompassing and comprehensive. A review of the out-lived but still used Master Plan of Maiduguri with a preparation of a comprehensive one be undertaken if co-ordinated development in Maiduguri is to be realized. The strategy to be adopted in the preparation of the proposed plan is the intercorporate agency strategy, where all implementing agencies are properly involved in the plan formulation. Once this is done, the plan unlike before should be binding on all agencies for their roles and responsibilities in its effective implementation. Furthermore, recommendations have also been made to the problems identified in the effective implementation of 'site and service in view 6f the faij.ut.es recorded in its implementation. Finally, a comprehensive National Urban Policy within a National Frame-work is to be formulated by the Federal Government, if planning at the State levels, including, Borno are to be realistic, since State level planning is directly affected by the planning frame-work and policies at the National level •James Baramda Mshelia (1990)