New Urbanism and the Challenges of the Onitsha Urban Sprawl: The Case of Onitsha Sky City

Abstract

The urbanization of Onitsha metropolitan area already created the dislocation of Onitsha Master Plan implementation. Subsequent to this, is the lack of adequate urban infrastructure, inappropriate implementation of the Master Plan, facilities and amenities for the Onitsha exploding population. These, accompanied by rapid urbanization resulted in spontaneous growth of slums, and ghetto settlements in the city centre and surrounding territories. Various current movements in urban design seek to create sustainable urban environments with long- lasting structures, buildings and a great liveability for its inhabitants. Onitsha communities would need to walk and live in the same community and the most clearly defined form of walkable urbanism is known as the Charter of New Urbanism. It is an approach for successfully reducing environmental impacts by altering the built environment to create and preserve smart cities that support sustainable transport. The Onitsha Master Plan was elaborated to put in place, a sustainable urban spatial environment for all groups or classes of activities to be carried out in the metropolitan area. The city was planned to be built in phases and by different developers. The Master Plan actually provided for low-income settlements (housing) areas, to be built by individuals and to be occupied by the public; the poor urban sector servants did not appear to be properly provided for. The government should invest in appropriate planning and execution of the Onitsha urban development laws, to invigorate hope, encourage and restore confidence in the people. The settlements have for years, suffered and in poor conditions and lacked housing and socioeconomic needs. The current Onitsha settlement patterns (formal and informal) are not speaking in terms of integration and there is, inexistence, adverse economic inequality and injustice within the Onitsha mainland area and the need for the formal, informal settlements and the resident

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