Restoring Residential Slums into Habitable Districts: A Study of Odo- Ikoyi -Isolo Quarters of Akure, Nigeria

This study examines the living condition of the people in Odo-Ikoyi and Isolo quarters area of Akure, Nigeria. The study employed the use of questionnaire to gather information on the condition of buildings and socioeconomic variables. This is backed up by site investigation survey to identify the types and nature of the environmental activities in the areas. Simple table, percentages and explanatory paragraph were used for the analysis. A lot of problems bedeviled Odo-Ikoyi and Isolo quarters, ranging from; old age, poor housing condition, missing environmental amenities, poverty and lack of attention from both the residents and the government. These conditions have affected and deteriorated the area into slum and squalid environment. The study notes that there is hope in restoring the slum into a good and habitable environment and therefore recommends that government should wake up to her responsibility by providing decent living environment to her citizenry. It is also recommended that the residents of the area be empowered by  government through its poverty alleviation and skill acquisition programmes. Other  recommendations include educating and enlightenment campaign to re awaken the minds of the residents about the needs to develop their environment. The NGOs and the multinational organization are also recommended to be brought in to the redevelopment, rehabilitation and renovation of the areas.Key words: Slum, Habitable district, Transformation, Akure, Nigeria

Building Conservation as a Veritable Tool for Preservation of Cultural Heritage: A Case of Historic Buildings in Calabar, Nigeria

The phenomenon of modern conservation can be said to be virtually new in the developing world, though, it has been practiced extensively in the developed world. In almost every settlement, buildings of historic importance are under threat from either destruction or replacement with imported western technology and culture. The aim of this study is to assess the problems and prospects of conserving sites of historic buildings in Calabar in Nigeria. This study is dependent on both primary and secondary data. Primary data were obtained by direct observation, interviews and administration of questionnaires while secondary data were extracted from published and unpublished sources which include text books, journals and conference proceedings. A comprehensive reconnaissance survey of the study area was carried out and twenty-eight (28) historic buildings were identified. A stratified simple random sampling was adopted by dividing the buildings into categories out of which twelve (12) were selected as the sample size. The findings revealed that virtually all the buildings are old and over 100 years but greater percentage (66.7%) of them are in good and fair conditions while about 75.0% of them enjoy infrastructural facilities like electricity to date. It was recommended that Government should make the rehabilitation of these buildings a priority and fund for this could be achieved through establishment of National Trust Fund.Keywords: Conservation, Cultural heritage, Historic buildings, Infrastructural facilities, Value

Slum Characteristics of a Deplorable Residential District of Akure, Nigeria

The reality of the inner core of cities becoming slums generally tended to follow the theoretical path established by Burgess. Adapting the tenets of his classical planning model to describe the spatial distribution of land-use in Akure, this study attempts to investigate the factors responsible for the formation of slums and how the city’s centre become degraded. Method of investigation is essentially both descriptive and analytical based on field survey. The study examined the existing situation in the study area in terms of its housing system and the condition of infrastructure facilities available in the neighbourhood. It also examined the socio-economic status of respondents, their perception of the living environments and problems experienced. Questionnaires, observation, housing demographic and facility survey are major research instruments used to gather relevant information for the study. The empirical survey carried out in the area revealed the high degree of deplorable conditions of the living environments and the inadequacy of essential facilities for comfortable living. The area is crowded with derelict buildings that lack basic household services. For these reasons, extensive development and upgrading renewal efforts were recommended, which should be supported with improved sanitation strategy for sustainable management of the area.Keywords: Deplorable condition, Degradation, Poverty level, Proliferation of slums,Re-development and Urban management