Contemporary Issues in Urbanization and Sustainable Development in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects

Abstract

Urbanization is a worldwide trend common to developed and developing societies, but the prospects and challenging issues are always different particularly in African societies, which is why some societies are more developed than others. Several studies have been carried out before now to address urban challenges such as; corruption, urban decay, markets congestion, over population, unemployment, migration, inactive laws for maintenance, poor waste management, poor housing and pandemic health challenges, continue to thrive in urban areas. These are harmful to sustainable development. It is on these note that this study review some of the existing literatures on the subject matter to appraise contemporary urbanization issues that are capable of limiting sustainable development which are; intolerance of religious and ethnic differences, territorial conflicts and insecurities, abuse of public facilities, and negligence of rural poverty, are some of the challenges discovered facing urbanization in Nigeria. The study concludes that urbanization is an enabling ground for sustaining development, and the prospects will usher in; effect project supervision, management and enhance healthy living standard of people in the society. To this end; the following recommendations were made; utilization of rural potentials for employment opportunities, effective implementation of the federal character system, parliamentary and judicial checks to offset bias in appointments and awards of project contracts.