THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN URBAN MASTERPLAN Case of Maiduguri
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN URBAN MASTERPLAN Case of Maiduguri
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Date
1990-10
Authors
JAMES, BARAMDA MSHELIA
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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)
Description
Department of urban and Regional Planning,
Faculty of Environmental Design
Ahmadu Bello University
Zaria, Nigeria
OCTOBER, 1990
Keywords
IMPLEMENTATION,, URBAN,, Case,, Maiduguri.