Abstract:
Abstract
Cities have experienced dramatic growth as a result of rapid urbanization globally. This
study examined the effect of urbanization on the living conditions of Mpape residents in
Abuja is the nation‟s capital. While cities in Nigeria as well as other parts of the world are
becoming dominant as both centres of production and consumption, the rapid growth of
Nigeria cities have seriously outstripped the capacity of most cities to provide and
maintain adequate basic services to their residents as this increasing rate does not
correspond with infrastructural provision and maintenance of existing infrastructure. This
has necessitated undue pressure and challenges on the urban environment and residents'
living conditions. The study adopted a survey research design and purposive sampling
procedure to select informal from Mpape in Bwari Area Council. An in-depth interview was
the instrument used for information gathering which was analyzed non-numerically using
content analysis. Findings from this study show that housing and social infrastructure
like road networks, and healthcare facilities among others are grossly inadequate and lacking
while the available ones are in a deplorable and pathetic state due to urbanization. The
study concluded that urbanization and population growth left uncontrolled and planned
within urban areas like Abuja has a drastic effect on the environment and the living
conditions of residents. The study recommended that the government both at the local and
federal level should enforce proper planning and development control policy in the area
and effectively implement infrastructural development to ameliorate the challenges
confronting the area as a result of urbanization and population growth.
