DOI: https://doi.org/10.14710/ruang.12.2.103-116

Residents' Perception of Development Control Activities in a Typical Traditional Town. A Case Study, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, Nigeria


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Abstract

The effectiveness of development control activities (DCAs) in Nigeria has raised concerns among scholars. This study examines residents’ perceptions of DCAs and their agreement with the functions of development control agencies in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods were employed using primary and secondary data. The study area was stratified into four residential zones: the traditional city centre, middle-income areas, high-income areas, and post-crisis residential areas. Thirty streets were purposively selected, followed by systematic sampling of residential buildings at a 5% sampling rate. A total of 120 adult residents were surveyed. Results showed that 67.5% of respondents perceived DCAs as very effective, while 5.0% considered them extremely effective. Perceptions varied across residential zones, with the highest proportion rating DCAs as very effective in the city centre (78.6%) and the lowest in post-crisis areas (46.4%). The overall Residents’ Agreement Index (RAI) was 4.34. Opening up roads recorded the highest RAI (4.43), whereas settling land ownership disputes recorded the lowest (4.20). Area-specific mean RAI values ranged from 4.06 in post-crisis areas to 4.51 in high-income areas. The study recommends strengthening public awareness, improving land-dispute resolution, and enhancing monitoring and enforcement. Objective performance indicators are needed to establish whether positive perceptions reflect effective implementation.

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Keywords: Residents, Perception, Development Control, Traditional Settlement
Funding: Nil

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Section: Articles
Language : ENGLISH
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