Slum Development in 3rd World Countries: Causes, Effect and Way out (A Case Study of Ibadan South East Local Government, Nigeria)

Abstract

Slums and squatting areas accommodate the majority of the population of cities in developing countries and it is estimated to be home to over 800million people, which is predicted by the UN-Habitat (2003) to grow to between 1 and 2 billion by 2020. This case of slum development is not alien to Nigeria. This study considers the case of Ibadan Metropolis. The major factors as discovered, contributing to slum development include rural-urban migration, unplanned neighborhood, overpopulation, non-compliance with laid down rules and illiteracy. The resultant effects of this are overcrowding, outbreak of diseases, loss of man hours, insecurity of life, and decline in property values amongst others. To get out of this web which keeps entangling us like a vicious cycle, the government at all levels have a major role to play by providing and implementing enabling laws and regulations, improving waste disposal, drainage and sanitary system as well as implement urban renewal.