Engaging Stakeholders in Urban Planning and Decision-Making Processes in Enugu State: A Collaborative Approach for Sustainable Development
Agu Lilian Ebere, and Ezeodili Walter
Abstract
Urban planning is essential for sustainable and inclusive development in rapidly urbanizing areas. In Enugu State, Nigeria, inadequate stakeholder engagement severely undermines transparency, accountability, and effective policy outcomes. This study assesses the extent and challenges of stakeholder participation in urban planning in Enugu metropolis, with a population of 1,029,400, data were collected from 625 respondents using stratified and purposive sampling through structured questionnaires, in-depth interviews, and field observations. Quantitative analysis employed frequencies, percentages, mean scores, and Chi-square tests. The findings reveal minimal and largely symbolic stakeholder involvement in the urban planning process. Superficial engagement practices and structural challenges— such as poor communication, lack of civic education, elite dominance, and top-down decision-making—hinder effective participation. The study concludes that inadequate stakeholder engagement compromises the legitimacy and responsiveness of urban planning in Enugu State. It urges the establishment of inclusive participatory frameworks, genuine collaboration in decision-making, and enhanced civic education to promote equitable and sustainable urban development.
References
Abubakar, A.M., Ibrahim, S. & Bello, A. (2025). Alternatives to master plan as a
development control tool in Nigeria: A review. International Journal of Research
and
Innovation
in
Social
Science,
9(4),
127–134.
https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/articles/alternatives-to-master-plan-as- a-
development-control-tool-in-nigeria-a-review/
Acheampong, R.A. & Ibrahim, B. (2021). Political economy of urban planning in Africa
https://www.scirp.org/reference/referencespapers?referenceid=3015007
Agbola, T. & Agunbiade, M.E. (2021). Planning in Nigeria: Reclaiming the participatory
space. Planning Perspectives, 36(2), 283-300. http://dx.doi.org/10.11113/jt.v77.6446
Alhassan, M. (2025). Rethinking participation in urban planning: A social network analysis
approach.
Journal
of
Urban
and
Regional
Analysis,
17(2),
145-163.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s44243-024-00052-z
Amatari, B. U., & Gunn, B. (2024). Effectiveness of participatory planning in building
environmental resilience and sustainable rural communities. International Journal of
Basic
and
Comparative
Education,
11(2),
94-105.
https://ijbcoejournals.com/index.php/sagbaman/article/view/173
Awuah, K. G. B., Oloruntoba, R., Adebayo, T. S., & Boateng, F. (2023). Discovering the
core stakeholders in the Nigerian urban water supply system: A stakeholder theory
approach.
Sustainable
Water
Resources
Management,
9(1),
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40899-023-00986-0
Ebekozien, A. (2020). Community participation in affordable housing provision in
developing cities: A study of Nigerian cities. Open Ukrainian Citation Index.
https://ouci.dntb.gov.ua/en/works/9jA2X0nl/
Ezeh, P.N. & Ikejiofor, U. (2023). Challenges of urban renewal and community participation
in Enugu State, Nigeria. African Journal of Environmental Studies, 17(2), 99-115.
http://dx.doi.org/10.9734/ajee/2025/v24i5713
Ezenwa, C.M., & Onyekachi, A. (2023). Community-driven planning in Nigerian urban
spaces. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s43545-022-00604-4
Fadda, M. (2024). Urban planning in a context of rapid urban growth. A large scale review of
urban plans in Africa https://arxiv.org/abs/2405.00048
Haruna, L., Zubairu, I.K., Olagunju, R.E. & Akande, O. K. (2023). Liveability considerations:
Towards designing sustainable public housing in Niger State, Nigeria. International
Journal
of
Contemporary
Urban
Affairs,
7(1),
70–89.
https://www.ijcua.com/index.php/ijcua/article/view/390
Idemudia, U., & Olorunfemi, F. (2022). Transparency and accountability in local governance:
Challenges for participatory decision-making in Nigerian cities.
African Journal of
Public Administration, 18(2), 67–84. http://dx.doi.org/10.57233/gijmss.v7i1.01
Leo-Olagbaye, F. A., Odeyinka, H. A., & Rathnasiri, U. A. H. (2023). Stakeholders’ roles in
the delivery of sustainable housing projects in Lagos State, Nigeria. Sustainability,
15(15), 11709. https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/15/11709
Moghalu, R.C. & Onuora, A.I. (2022). Sustainable urban development in Nigeria. Journal of
Environmental
and
Public
Health
Research,
6(2),
101–110
http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781351153409-22
Nwachi, E. (2022). Understanding the importance and factors of participation in the urban
planning process: A case study of Nigeria. Journal of Infrastructure Development,
5(1), 89–102. https://scholarhub.ui.ac.id/jid/vol5/iss1/6/
Oduwaye, L. (2021). Urban planning and public participation in Nigeria: A critical review.
Journal of African Urban Studies, 4(1), 1–15. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s43545-022-
00604-4
Olowoporoku, A. & Adebayo, T.A. (2022). The state of participatory planning in sub–
Saharan African cities. http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781003480884-5
Omisore, A.G., Adebayo, A.I. & Olowoporoku, A.O. (2022). Stakeholder engagement
and
the urban planning process in Sub-Saharan Africa. International Journal of
Urban
Sustainable Development, 14(1), 77–93. http://dx.doi.org/10.51415/ajims.v4i1.999
Olajide, O.A., Agunbiade, M.E. & Bishi, H B. (2020). The realities of Lagos urban
development vision on livelihoods of the urban poor. Journal of Urban Management,
7, 21-31.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jum.2018.03.001
Unegbu, C., Mohammed, A. & Nwankwo, C. (2024). Urban planning and governance in
Nigeria: Challenges, prospects and reform pathways. Urban Futures Review, 11(1),
1–17. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/afrrev.v5i2.67310
Adegun, O. B., & Olajide, O. A. (2020). Urban governance and participation in Nigeria’s
planning, International Journal Of Research And Innovation In Social Science (Ijriss),
8(4), 2812-2828 system https://dx.doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2024.804265
Uzonwanne, M.C. & Nwokoro, I.I. (2022). Participatory urban governance in Nigeria:
Between rhetoric and reality. Journal of Urban and Regional Planning Research, 5(3),
201–219.http://dx.doi.org/10.31920/2516-5305/2023/20n1a7
Usman, A.N. (2023). A strategy for stakeholder engagement in public-private partnership
urban infrastructure projects in Nigeria, Doctoral dissertation, University of Salford).
https://salford- repository.worktribe.com/output/1562587
Usman, S.A. (2022). Assessment of public participation in flood disaster management: A
case of Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria. In African Urbanisms Conference Proceedings.
https://www.urban-sdg-school.org/africanurbanisms/programme/session-5
development control tool in Nigeria: A review. International Journal of Research
and
Innovation
in
Social
Science,
9(4),
127–134.
https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/articles/alternatives-to-master-plan-as- a-
development-control-tool-in-nigeria-a-review/
Acheampong, R.A. & Ibrahim, B. (2021). Political economy of urban planning in Africa
https://www.scirp.org/reference/referencespapers?referenceid=3015007
Agbola, T. & Agunbiade, M.E. (2021). Planning in Nigeria: Reclaiming the participatory
space. Planning Perspectives, 36(2), 283-300. http://dx.doi.org/10.11113/jt.v77.6446
Alhassan, M. (2025). Rethinking participation in urban planning: A social network analysis
approach.
Journal
of
Urban
and
Regional
Analysis,
17(2),
145-163.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s44243-024-00052-z
Amatari, B. U., & Gunn, B. (2024). Effectiveness of participatory planning in building
environmental resilience and sustainable rural communities. International Journal of
Basic
and
Comparative
Education,
11(2),
94-105.
https://ijbcoejournals.com/index.php/sagbaman/article/view/173
Awuah, K. G. B., Oloruntoba, R., Adebayo, T. S., & Boateng, F. (2023). Discovering the
core stakeholders in the Nigerian urban water supply system: A stakeholder theory
approach.
Sustainable
Water
Resources
Management,
9(1),
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40899-023-00986-0
Ebekozien, A. (2020). Community participation in affordable housing provision in
developing cities: A study of Nigerian cities. Open Ukrainian Citation Index.
https://ouci.dntb.gov.ua/en/works/9jA2X0nl/
Ezeh, P.N. & Ikejiofor, U. (2023). Challenges of urban renewal and community participation
in Enugu State, Nigeria. African Journal of Environmental Studies, 17(2), 99-115.
http://dx.doi.org/10.9734/ajee/2025/v24i5713
Ezenwa, C.M., & Onyekachi, A. (2023). Community-driven planning in Nigerian urban
spaces. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s43545-022-00604-4
Fadda, M. (2024). Urban planning in a context of rapid urban growth. A large scale review of
urban plans in Africa https://arxiv.org/abs/2405.00048
Haruna, L., Zubairu, I.K., Olagunju, R.E. & Akande, O. K. (2023). Liveability considerations:
Towards designing sustainable public housing in Niger State, Nigeria. International
Journal
of
Contemporary
Urban
Affairs,
7(1),
70–89.
https://www.ijcua.com/index.php/ijcua/article/view/390
Idemudia, U., & Olorunfemi, F. (2022). Transparency and accountability in local governance:
Challenges for participatory decision-making in Nigerian cities.
African Journal of
Public Administration, 18(2), 67–84. http://dx.doi.org/10.57233/gijmss.v7i1.01
Leo-Olagbaye, F. A., Odeyinka, H. A., & Rathnasiri, U. A. H. (2023). Stakeholders’ roles in
the delivery of sustainable housing projects in Lagos State, Nigeria. Sustainability,
15(15), 11709. https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/15/11709
Moghalu, R.C. & Onuora, A.I. (2022). Sustainable urban development in Nigeria. Journal of
Environmental
and
Public
Health
Research,
6(2),
101–110
http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781351153409-22
Nwachi, E. (2022). Understanding the importance and factors of participation in the urban
planning process: A case study of Nigeria. Journal of Infrastructure Development,
5(1), 89–102. https://scholarhub.ui.ac.id/jid/vol5/iss1/6/
Oduwaye, L. (2021). Urban planning and public participation in Nigeria: A critical review.
Journal of African Urban Studies, 4(1), 1–15. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s43545-022-
00604-4
Olowoporoku, A. & Adebayo, T.A. (2022). The state of participatory planning in sub–
Saharan African cities. http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781003480884-5
Omisore, A.G., Adebayo, A.I. & Olowoporoku, A.O. (2022). Stakeholder engagement
and
the urban planning process in Sub-Saharan Africa. International Journal of
Urban
Sustainable Development, 14(1), 77–93. http://dx.doi.org/10.51415/ajims.v4i1.999
Olajide, O.A., Agunbiade, M.E. & Bishi, H B. (2020). The realities of Lagos urban
development vision on livelihoods of the urban poor. Journal of Urban Management,
7, 21-31.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jum.2018.03.001
Unegbu, C., Mohammed, A. & Nwankwo, C. (2024). Urban planning and governance in
Nigeria: Challenges, prospects and reform pathways. Urban Futures Review, 11(1),
1–17. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/afrrev.v5i2.67310
Adegun, O. B., & Olajide, O. A. (2020). Urban governance and participation in Nigeria’s
planning, International Journal Of Research And Innovation In Social Science (Ijriss),
8(4), 2812-2828 system https://dx.doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2024.804265
Uzonwanne, M.C. & Nwokoro, I.I. (2022). Participatory urban governance in Nigeria:
Between rhetoric and reality. Journal of Urban and Regional Planning Research, 5(3),
201–219.http://dx.doi.org/10.31920/2516-5305/2023/20n1a7
Usman, A.N. (2023). A strategy for stakeholder engagement in public-private partnership
urban infrastructure projects in Nigeria, Doctoral dissertation, University of Salford).
https://salford- repository.worktribe.com/output/1562587
Usman, S.A. (2022). Assessment of public participation in flood disaster management: A
case of Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria. In African Urbanisms Conference Proceedings.
https://www.urban-sdg-school.org/africanurbanisms/programme/session-5
