Improving Urban Basic Services in Nigeria

    Improving Urban Basic Services in Nigeria

Nigeria is one of the fastest growing and the most rapidly urbanizing countries in the Sub – Saharan Africa. However, living in the nation’s urban centres is posing a great challenge to people’s lives. Nigeria is already grappling with the plight of the urban poor. Basic services such as housing, water and sanitation, health infrastructure etc. are far from accessible to a large proportion of urban families and dwellers.

While the nation’s policy makers and planners are battling to come to terms with the complex task of urban development, there are fears of the adverse effects of population pressures. Experts are of the view that population needs may in near future outstrip the nation’s ability to adequately provide the basic human services.

Today, urban development issues have taken the front burners in any serious development discourse even as they have become increasingly important in determining the living conditions of many families, especially as they affect the poor. In Nigeria, the number of the urban poor and the number of extreme poor has been on the rise in recent times. The current economic recession, caused by low economic growth and rising youth unemployment has undoubtedly increased the number of the urban poor.

While many poor urban families are struggling to survive, the social safety nets have been weakening, further worsening their plight. With the limited number of citizens who can be reached with government’s social security programmes, religious organizations, informal micro – credit groups, and mutual assistance systems are being established as alternative coping mechanisms to support individuals in need.

To address this matter, efforts should be made to properly implement national urban policy that support urban poverty alleviation and improve urban development through the provision of basic services.

NGOs should continue to promote access to micro – credits, skills and training aimed at enhancing micro – businesses which will enhance the livelihoods and the earning capacities of poor families, women and youths.

NGOs and Community – Based Organizations (CBOs) should continue to implement local programmes of action that target low – income areas such as slums and squatter settlements in major cities in the country.