Challenges Facing Nigeria’s Urban Environment: The Abuja Case

The continued growth of urban population in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa has brought along with it, a myriad of challenges. Exacerbated by high birth rate and a continued increase in the level of rural-urban migration, the economic, infrastructural, and social conditions in these urban centres have been incapable of providing a good standard of living for its inhabitants. With a population of about 188 million and a HDI of 152 in 188 ranked countries, urban centres in Nigeria are plagued with poor security, epileptic power and water supply, poor sanitation, health challenges, high cost of construction amongst other challenges (NPC, 2017). This qualitative study expands on current knowledge with regards to the current challenges facing Nigeria’s urban environment with focus on Abuja, the Federal Capital of Nigeria as a primary case. This paper also analyses some of these long standing challenges, their interrelatedness and how they exacerbate the inability of the Nigerian government to solving them. Furthermore, the conclusion lays a response to these challenges with recommendation on the process of unravelling the complex conglomerate issues.