Built Environment Decay and Urban Health in Nigeria

Enforcing Building Set Backs as a Viable Strategy for an Emerging City

“…J. Ahianba, K. Dimuna, G. Okogun wrote that most land developers in Nigerian cities built as much as 70 % of the site, this result to consequences that includes poor setbacks overcrowding and inadequate parking spaces, outdoor sitting, access and ventilation, to the building interior [1]. Despite the presence of planning authority in the town, developers continue to provide buildings with no outdoor spaces, setback interval between buildings as it is clearly evident that most of the buildings done in the town are not issued approval by the planning authority whom ensures that buildings are properly designed before approval.…”

“…The spaces left for as setbacks can be used for the creation of aesthetics value and beautification in a building environment. A well landscaped setback spaces can improve the Architecture of the environment through visual and psychological perception of the occupant of a building as written by J. Ahianba, K. Dimuna, G. Okogun that landscaped environment pleasures and relax a troublesome heart and aids longevity [1]. Figure 3 below shows how landscaped setback spaces add beauty to an environment, it also helps in cooling the microclimatic condition of the environment through shading and evaporation.…”

“…On the issue of lightening and ventilation only (25.3 %) of the habitable rooms surveyed in (60) buildings units of the three wards of the town has windows on two different walls of the rooms, while (68 %) forming bulk of the survey has only one window and this offers less or no cross ventilation and this is mainly done because there is no setbacks on the sides of the buildings thus the building is so closed to another one or road that does not warrant means to provide window, J. Ahianba, K. Dimuna, G. Okogun wrote that Lack of ventilation in buildings encourages high humidity level that favours the breeding of various kinds of fungi that contaminate food items, furthermore, the breathing in the air in such buildings does cause cold, catarrh and breathing, problems among the old people and asthmatic patients [1].…”

Urban Renewal Strategies and Economic Growth in Ondo State, Nigeria: A Case Study

“…Unfortunately, the built environment of urban centres in many developing countries like Nigeria is fast decaying (Ahianba, Ahianba, Dimuna & Okogun, 2008). While the spate of the decay is continually worsening, its spread varies in magnitude from city to city with consequential grave economic implications.…”

Assessing the Need for Developing and Managing Recreational Facilities In Nigeria

“…Furthermore, Thompson (2002), acknowledged that, access to some form of "nature" is fundamental human need and therefore, a vital part of access to open space. In addition, Ahianba et al (2008) emphasized that physical environment is an important component of the environment and it is through that which organism, individual, community or population are in contact. As such, a well landscaped physical environment, also known as the built environment should be an integral part of the human environment.…”