Appraising the Performance of Urban Renewal Measures in Nigeria: A Case of Osogbo, Osun State
Adebisi Ilelabayo Ismail, Olarinoye John Kehinde, Olaoye Olubunmi Adedayo, Olatinwo Fatai Aderinola

Abstract
The high rate of urban decay which was as a result of uncoordinated urban growth and poor infrastructural planning and provision in Nigeria has informed the need for urban renewal. However, joblessness, displacement, homelessness and hunger among other brunt mostly experienced by the poor dwellers are the direct consequences of past urban renewal programmes. To ameliorate this brunt, certain measures were put in place by the Government before the execution of urban renewal programs recently experienced in Osogbo- the capital of Osun state. This paper hence seeks to appraise the performance of these measures with a view to suggesting possible ways of improving on them. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected for the purpose of the research. Qualitative data was collected through Oral interviews and direct observation. Interviews were conducted on officials of Osun waste management agencies and residents of places where waste disposal on roads was identified to be on a very high scale. Quantitative data was collected using structured questionnaires. A total of 160 questionnaires were administered, 80 of which was administered on selected victims of renewal who lost their shops and places of work and the remaining 80 selected were victims whose residences were affected. Six (6) executed urban renewal measures were identified and appraised and result indicated that only two (2) could be said to have performed. The result also found out that only 42.1% respondents are aware of more than two of the relief measures put in place, this is an indication of a general low level of awareness of the relief measures taken as against 71% respondents who claimed they were aware of the urban renewal program long before it was commenced. Appropriate recommendations were given on how to improve on the measures in the future.

Full Text: PDF