Abstract

This paper examines the management of sustainable development of our modern cities. It understudies how such cites could evolve in such a manner that its sustainability now not mortgaged future existence. This has become vital taking into consideration the challenges posed by the formulation and implementation of Nigeria’s urban development policies/programmes. Our case study is the urban renewal/development programme of Calabar, the capital city of Cross River State of Nigeria from 1999 to 2011. The question to ask is, is the policy substantive enough to generate rapid development of Calabar now without creating serious socioeconomic and political problems for the future? Such problems may include the bifurcation of the cities into affluent and destitute enclaves, environmental pollution and degradation, political and electoral violence and assassinations, and increase in the rates of inequality, unemployment and poverty. Survey of secondary data is adopted for generating necessary information for this study; with a view to assessing the extent to which our urban development policies have aided or otherwise the sustainable development of our cities in the following areas: more varied employment opportunities, improved access to housing services, improved public services, improved security against violence and conflicts, and the overall improved management of the development of cities. The paper concludes among others: that in most cases apart from the existence of vigorous city development strategy, the vast majority of the urban dwellers are not part of the policy formulation and implementation, there is distortion is policy interpretation and implementation, corruption and other related offences impacts negatively on policy formulation and implementation. To evolve sustainably developed cities in the Nigeria requires a conscious definition, management and handling of the problem issues noted above.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.