Scholars urge Nigeria to protect informal markets, settlements

International scholars have called on Nigeria and other African nations to stop viewing informal markets and settlements as failures, urging them instead to embrace these areas as essential components of resilient and sustainable urban development. This plea was made during the opening of the second edition of the Southern Urbanism Co-Net Conference held at the University of Lagos.

The three-day event, targeting architects, urban planners, and researchers from Nigeria, Japan, Mali, France, China, Tanzania, and Latin America, emphasized the need for inclusive participation of traditional markets, informal settlements, and indigenous architecture in urban planning. Organised by Dr Mokolade Johnson from UNILAG's architecture department and attended by experts from Africa, Asia, and Europe, the conference aimed to promote indigenous knowledge in urban development.

Dr Johnson highlighted the gathering's mission to showcase how culture, heritage, and people-based knowledge could shape cities, rather than relying solely on imported ideas. Prof Oussouby Sacko, Executive Director of Tokyo Metropolitan Public University Corporation in Japan, stressed that African governments should stop viewing informal settlements only as areas to be demolished and instead find ways to make them safer and more livable.

Sacko, a Malian-born architect, noted that African urban infrastructure and housing possess unique characteristics that should be celebrated and utilized. He pointed to Japan's efficient use of limited space as an example that African cities could emulate while maintaining their distinct identity. Dr Steven Ajadi, an architect and urban designer, urged African governments to evaluate local markets based on their economic and social strengths rather than Western standards.

Ajadi argued that informality is a defining aspect of African urban spaces, and rather than being a weakness, it should be celebrated as a source of resilience, particularly during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. He criticized the demolition and redevelopment of traditional markets into expensive commercial complexes, which often exclude the traders who sustain local economies.

Dr Christian Pedelahore de Loddis, a French urban planner, urged African governments to prioritize affordable, locally driven innovations over costly mega-projects. Drawing inspiration from Brazil's Curitiba, he cited the success of the Bus Rapid Transit system as proof that transformative solutions could be achieved with limited resources.