ROLES OF URBAN OPEN SPACES TO ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY IN NIGERIA

Oladunjoye, K.G.K.

Department of Architecture,

The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Nigeria

Email: koladunjoye60@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

In the quest to maximise land value in terms of cost and location, human activities at various levels has led to the abuse of the physical environment in the misuse of the urban open spaces which if provided for in order with planning regulations in Nigeria, would have increased the beauty and safety of the buildings, and consequently, the wellbeing of accommodations. But with the continuous obliteration of these natural areas by man’s activities of building development, refuse dumping, squatter settlements among others, with little or no cognisance of the need for coordinating physical development activities among neighbourhoods within major towns and cities have resulted into an unsafe, unpleasant quality of the environment. This paper asserts that it is fundamental that open spaces be provided for within the built environment in Nigeria and improved to enhance the quality of the environment as well as improve the safety of lives and properties of the inhabitants. It further asserts that creating and developing open spaces within a neighbourhood can help meet many needs such as adding to their buildings aesthetics, acting as green lungs of that community, encouraging leisure activities, community interaction and cohesion, encouraging active and healthy lifestyles, preserving open spaces from harmful repellent purposes such as flooding and erosion by putting into good use. Overall, this paper examines the roles and contributions of open spaces development and management in urban areas as a strategy for environmental improvement, conservation and its potential in sustaining a safe built environment in Nigeria.