INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LATEST TECHNOLOGY IN ENGINEERING,

MANAGEMENT & APPLIED SCIENCE (IJLTEMAS)

ISSN 2278-2540 | DOI: 10.51583/IJLTEMAS | Volume XIII, Issue VI, June 2024

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Planning Green Infrastructure: Provisions and Alteration in

Prominent Cities of Nigeria

Daibi – Oruene, Waaka Divine,

Bumaa Felix Neeka,

Onyekenichuku Godwin and

Ubani Princewill

1&2

Department of Architecture Ken Saro Wiwa Polytechnic Bori Rivers State Nigeria

3&4

Departments of Urban and Regional Planning Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu Nigeria

DOI : https://doi.org/10.51583/IJLTEMAS.2024.130613

Received: 01 June 2024; Accepted: 13 June 2024; Published: 17 July 2024

Abstract: Green infrastructure provides physical aesthetics, healthier and quality environment for urban settlements globe.

However, many urban centres in the third world countries are deprived the benefits of green infrastructure and subjected to

unhealthy conditions that endanger human safety, land uses and the entire ecological system of both macro and micro

environment due to poor planning and government policies. This research therefore, compared the effect of green infrastructure

alteration on the physical environment of two major cities (Port Harcourt and Calabar) Nigeria. The study sampled 6 green zones

and 250 residents for both cities under investigation while Duncan Multiple Comparism analysis (DMCA), mathematical

percentage (MP) and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was adopted as the statistical analysis implements. The findings established

that calabar benefits from green infrastructure that improves the city aesthetics and other aspect of the environment through

proper physical planning and government policies than Port Harcourt city of Nigeria at (P<0.05). In furtherance, the study

revealed that usage understanding, budget constraint, wrong cost benefit analysis, and poor environmental management and

maintenance strategies were identified as the key determinants of naturally retained and planned green infrastructure alteration in

both cities, and discovered that, the city of Calabar was built on smart and resilient development strategies than Port Harcourt

metropolis of Nigeria. The study recommended that town planning authorities should be charge with the responsibilities of smart

and resilient city building through green infrastructure development and avoidance of informal alteration of such infrastructure.

Also, suggested the need for frequent acquisition of data on green infrastructure development and inclusion in all land use

development.

Keyword: Green Infrastructure, Planning, Provision, Alteration, Prominent, Cities, Nigeria

I. Introduction

Globally, the greening of land uses, generation and regeneration of the entire urban environment through green infrastructure has

been given much attention by the town planners, architects and allied professionals that regulate proposed and built environment

to realize sustainability and physical development that targets smart and resilient cities growth (Ubani, Tobi and Amakeree 2003).

In this trend, green infrastructure appears to be crucial in human settlement because its functions and provisions are necessary and

supportive for quality, aesthetics and inhabitable environment. However, different class of cities in the third world countries are

witnessing rapid alteration of green infrastructures, its spaces and undesired effects are experienced socially, economically and

environmentally in urban, suburb and rural areas. The un-ruled or ugly incidents are gaining more prominence and the situation

aggravated when the driving force of population pressure, urbanisation and economic transformation in the developing nation

increased, and overwhelmed urban planning and its management processes by both the informalities and unplanned development.

The phenomenon prevails predominantly in residential neighbourhood (medium and high income densities) and commercial land

uses. However, town planning standard of practice have initiated mandatory greening of substantial percentage of proposed

micro and macro (building plans and neighbourhood designs/plan seeking approval to realize sustainability, smart and resilient

built environment. Regrettably, the problems of green infrastructure alterations seem to overwhelm development control unit of

urban planning, and the unfortunate situation may not be unconnected with the failure in the formulation of physical policies and

programs by policy makers for cities and alteration of green infrastructure and its sustainability.

Problems of Green Infrastructure Alteration in Developing Nations Environment

The attendant consequences for green infrastructural alteration in mega and metropolitan cities of the globe frustrate urban

morphology and portray unhealthy conditions, poor aesthetics and other problems that degrade quality environment and

sustainable development. However, the harmful effect of greens alteration destabilized scientific planning and physical

development of all manners in prominent cities found in developing nations. In the same vain, the increase of industrial and

commercial actions triggered the conversion of green sites to other land use activities and informality directed by the political

class despite the harmful impact and negative changes on urban villages and the entire environment. The view of United Nations

(1987) anchored on the alteration of green infrastructures and their purposes that in most cases, upsets the bionetwork in different

directions and the refusal to vindicate climate change, clamour and mid-air pollution from survey and extraction actions.

Moreover, urban communities developed outside greens are under the influence of chronic ailments and other ecological

encounters originating from dispensation and merchandise emission, and the effect may threaten and resettle the entire urban

community.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LATEST TECHNOLOGY IN ENGINEERING,

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ISSN 2278-2540 | DOI: 10.51583/IJLTEMAS | Volume XIII, Issue VI, June 2024

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This analysis therefore, compared Port Harcourt and calabar physical alteration of green infrastructure. Survey the adverse

impacts on human, physical environment and variation of planned and retained greens in both cities. The outcome of the research

will benefit decision makers, town planners, allied professions of built environment and research community by conveying

pertinent strategies that deters green infrastructure alteration and management in both cities especial Port Harcourt. This will

ultimately stimulates environmental sustainability, while pursuing the goal of green spaces development.

II. Literature Review

Sequel to the research works conducted for natural and scientific developed green infrastructure across the globe, Fedorov,

Kuklina, Sizov, Soromotin Prihodko, Pechkin, Krasnenko, Lobanov and Esau (2021) considered historical viewpoint of urban

green and blue spaces in a sub-Arctic urban area of Nadym in Russia through joint measureable data from satellite imagery and

biometric examinations and descriptive data from meetings with critical investors and populaces. The result revealed that green

areas were used less during summer stock, silent extremely valued, deep seas are charity and cherished additional than heater

light ponds and season bleached intergalactic do no therapist but improve the urban community space. Again, Cable images

showed predictable damage of green galaxy to urban structure and its solution by means of false plantings while small

significance blue space reduced virtually three-times. According to Hao-Ting, Chih-Da, Jung-Der, Po-See Ying-Jan and Huey-

Jen (2020) determined green interplanetary assemblies and schizophrenia occurrence in Taiwan The study held random sampling

techniques and the result shown that none relationship exist between greatest green areas assemblies directories and schizophrenia

occurrence which implies that conclusions planned that for green spaces and a superior unkind square environ and control

density, (higher perimeter–area ratio, greater proximity, could decrease the jeopardy of schizophrenia. Jochem, Gerard,

Bloemsmaab, Maciejm. Wijgaa, Brinka, Erik, and .Janssen (2018) shown that coldness to the adjoining park arrival was not

related with overweight or outside physical action. The Links between adjacent green space and overweight or outside physical

actions were highly non-linear. In respect of NDVI neighbouring greenness, the investigation discovered pointedly reduced odds

of being overweight and enlarged odds for outside physical activity in the peak quintile associated to the lowest quintile. on the

angle of TOP10NL green space environment, relationship were frequently non-important. The meeting of Word Health

Organisation (2016) reported that, the road map interferences of green space available around urban communities may solve

numerous communal health challenges connected to obesity, cardiovascular effects, mental health and well-being. As the

awareness on the efficacy of the involvements in reality to health, comfort and fairness is incomplete. According to WHO

reviewed report on previous investigation proved, the gathering of native situation studies and instances of Environmental Impact

Assessment/Health Impact Assessment understandings, such professional meeting was held in respect of variation of green space

intrusion methods and their connected influences on environmental circumstances, health standing, comfort and fairness. This

report presents the discussion and conclusions on what intervention components have been found to be effective in maximizing

the environmental, health and equity benefits derived from urban green spaces.

Marianne (2019) analysed humanity's recent encounters, climate variation and chronic sickness, in connection with co- welfares

that green spaces supply to hominoid health and the entire surrounding. The author discovered that availability of green space

minimized nervousness, obesity and cardiovascular disease. According to him, Green spaces brings healthy environment by

minimizing flooding, advancement of air quality, cooling, canopy and tackle the indicators of many prolonged sickness and

connected hazardous issues together with ecological and well-being effects of temperature variation. Wim, Jan and Marian,

(2021) studied the role urban green spaces show on the course of social elimination and urban greening policies for ornamental

social fairness meant for precise clusters that were omitted, especially aging individuals with dementia, people with mental

problems within the vicinity of disadvantaged district. The authors also classify four serious issues outside the conceivable

approaches and actions to encourage insertion. They pinpointed that instruments and treatises were challenged on the course of

analysing inclusive promotion of the aged with dementia, group considered as on sound mind and population residing in the

poor region. While successful addition approaches in these direction are built on arrangement at the middle of private performer’s

creativities and communal activities. The work concluded that both municipal and individual activities required good collaborate

in a direction that make urban green space portion of attachment approaches.

Historical Development of Green Infrastructure and Implementation Possibilities

According to Richa, Lolita and Maya (2022), opinions were built on driven variety of ideas pertaining urban green infrastructure.

They deemed it necessary that such development should anchored on Europe and broader context because green infrastructure has

some pre-requisite for the 21st century strategies of protection and expansion of EU drew back to the replicas of model

resurgence cities and urbanism ideas mainly of the 19th and 20th epoch. For the historical era, applied ideas destined urban

landscapes a scheme, component of the atmosphere, as understood in green corridors, green belts, green wedges, green networks

and concluded the insight of urban green components. Being a contemporary idea that urban green infrastructure used for

advancement through developed roles, spreading occupations, possibilities and gauges emanating from past historical concept.

Within that intellect, it upholds the societal protagonist of enhancing standard of living across the urban environment, and with

the same time defining town texture and urban morphological significance. It enhances ecological standards and extends its scale

to non-urban, local, regional and international backgrounds. Presently, green infrastructure shapes experts and scientific

discussion, political approaches and practical strategies about greenery growth predominant the urban hemisphere.

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III. Method and Techniques

This analysis concentrated much on environmental observation, questionnaire administration, group discussion, and multiple-

stage sampling techniques employed to arrive at the target respondents. The research considered and adopted 25 and 27 planning

neighbourhoods of Port Harcourt and calabar metropolis recognise by national population commission (NPC, 1991). From the 52

planning districts of both cities, the study selected one (1) neighbourhood randomly from five classified neighbourhood. Thus,

Nkpoluorogbu, Rumuoparali, Borikiri, ogbunabali and Nkpolo for Port Harcourt Towns and Etagbor, Esien Town, Etimedem,

IBB Road and Tinapa zone for calabar and preceded by reconnaissance survey that determined the number of streets in every

selected neighbourhood. However, 81 streets in Nkpoluorogbu and tinapa area, 51 in Etagbo and Rumuoparali, 63 Borikiri and

Essien town, Ognunabali and Etimedem 43 and 35 at Nkpuolo and IBB Road. One out of every ten street was selected in each of

the selected district of the two cities.

In continuance, another survey were conducted to determine the number of buildings in the identified streets of both cities;

Reconnaissance survey revealed that there were 284, 310, 221, 475 and 373 buildings in Nkpoluorogbu and tinapa area, Etagbo

and Rumuoparali, Borikiri and Essien town, Ognunabali and Etimedem and Nkpuolo and IBB Road respectively. Using

systematic sampling method, every 5

building was sampled. Thus, 120 buildings were sampled in Nkpoluorogbu and tinapa

area, 105 in Etagbo and Rumuoparali,135 in Borikiri and Essien town, 155 in Etimedem and Ognunabali and 127 in Nkpolo and

IBB road. A total of 636 household heads were sampled from the selected buildings and 615 representing 96%. In like manners,

308 copies of questionnaire were distributed in Port Harcourt and 307 copies in calabar representing 98.1 were returned for

analysis. Issues addressed in the questionnaire included alteration of green infrastructure, green appearance of both cities and

environmental problems associated with greens alteration in both cities. Duncan Multiple Comparism analysis (DMCA),

mathematical percentage (MP) and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to determine physical greening and environmental

aesthetics, alteration of green infrastructure and associated environmental problems

Table 1: Green Infrastructure Alteration Condition for Port Harcourt and Calabar Nigeria

S/N

Port Harcourt Towns

Calabar Towns

Selected Streets

for both cities

selected Buildings

for both cities

Sampled Buildings

Nkpoluorogbu

Tinapa Area

284

120

Rumuoparali

Etagbo

310

105

Borikiri

Essien Town

221

135

Ognunabali

Etimedem

475

155

Nkpolo

IBB Road

373

127

TOTAL

274

1,663

636

Environmental Survey 2023

IV. Result and Discussion

Physical Greening and Environmental Aesthetics for Prominent Cities of Nigeria

The comparative analysis conducted for greening and aesthetics values and quality of both cities in Nigeria through physical

observation, planned and naturally retained greens through questionnaire, group discussion and environmental observations

confirmed (ANOVA) as presented in table 2 shown that significant difference exist in greening and physical appearance of

calabar and Port Harcourt city at 0.01 level [ F – 10.583; significant at p =0.002}. The study had similarity with (2016) World

Health Organisation report which insisted that, the only way to discover the efficiency of urban green spaces intrusions to

improve strong urban settings is nothing but to assemble European specialists on green space and town planning to exchange

ideas and practices about urban green space interferences This implies that town planning practice that ensure the implementation

of various land use activities including green infrastructure development exist in calabar metropolis. But Port Harcourt city that

beacon her poor planning experiences on the alteration and disregard of planned and naturally retained green infrastructure with

adverse effect. Suggesting that the review of urban expansion policies, physical development standard and powers control

mechanism to achieve urban green infrastructure was achieved in calaba than Harcourt metropolis.

Table 2: Aesthetics Analysis for Calabar and Port Harcourt Greening in Nigeria

Port Harcourt/ Calabar

Sum Square

Mean Square

Sig.

Between group

227.146

237.146

10.583

002.

Within Group

1449.114

22.318

Total

1586.188

Environmental Survey 2023

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Determinants of Green Infrastructure Provisions and Alteration in Nigeria

The summarised analysis on determinants of greens alteration is detailed in table 3. However, the populations investigated

identified five (5) major determinants of green infrastructure alteration in developing urban centres of the globe include usage

understanding, budget constraint, wrong cost benefit analysis, and poor management and maintenance strategies. The identified

factors were responsible for 100% determinants and alteration of green infrastructure in areas. The analysis related to United

Nations comment on greens (1987) which attested that global community have been reacting to the certainty neglect and

detrimental impact of urban green alteration in many parts of the cities including the capability of preventing the advantages

obtainable from such land uses. The international standard further stressed that such complications could be eradicated through

the practices of scientific greens, land use development, implementation and strategies that reduces chronic health. This implies

that towns and villages including green infrastructure has continue to develop spontaneous or without physical planning guide in

Port Harcourt city while calabar metropolis evident scientific planning and implementation of land use policies that sustained

greens.

Table 3: Determinants of Green Infrastructure Alteration in Port Harcourt and Calabar

S/N

Constant/Predictors

Port Harcourt

Calabar

Coefficient

Understanding the usage

35%

45%

25%

budget constraint

65%

15%

25%

wrong cost benefit analysis

56%

24%

25%

poor management

60%

10%

maintenance strategies

64%

10%

15%

Sources: survey 2023

Smart and Resilient Nature of Nigeria Prominent Cities and Green Infrastructure

The contrast tests held for smart and resilient nature of both Port Harcourt city and Calabar metropolis of Nigeria suggests that

Calabar experience resilient and smarter environment appearance than Port Harcourt city. The compared analysis built on

professional point of view and environmental clarifications as attested by the cities dweller was adopted as an input data through

Duncan multiple comparison examination conducted. The result presented in table 2 showed that significant difference existe in

the smarter and resilient nature of calabar and Port Harcourt prominent cities of Nigeria at 0.05 (2.8335 and 2.4629) alpha subset

respectively. This implies that Port Harcourt just like many cities of the globe especially in sub-Saharan Africa experience much

alteration of green infrastructure characterised by antagonistic effect of higher green infrastructure alteration, disregard, poor

urban policy and non-equipment of physical development authorities that may demonstrate commitment for friendly

environmental and climate change leverage. However, calabar urban just like many cities in advance countries demonstrate more

priority on green infrastructure development, good urban policy, proper physical development and commitment for smarter and

resilient settlement. Furthermore, urban development policies that enhance planned and naturally retained green infrastructure and

mandatory approval of different physical plans encompassing greens are common and higher at calabar. This study gained

support from Hanneke, Nina, Brigit, Ruth, Aline, Gabriel, Sahran, Sonia, Pablo, Monica, Fotis, Pania, ,Maria, Silvestre,

Matluba, George and Ingrid (2019) who confirmed that generating good-strategic green spaces and inspiring human to harvest

the advantages may convey three-way win by enhancing availability, attractive, healthy preserved green space with room for

socialization, and areas people are safe, can upsurge the chances and inspiration of populace applying it every time

Table 4: Smart and Resilient Variation of Port Harcourt and Calabar Green Infrastructure

Metropolis

Number

Alpha Subset

Sig.

Port Harcourt

318

2.4629

1.000

Calabar

318

2.8335

1.000

Environmental Survey 2023

V. Conclusion

Enhancing greening, environmental aesthetics, smart and resilient environment in the 21

century, take account of

neighbourhoods and scientific approaches of holistic urban planning, architectural design and sustainable development that

considers green infrastructure. However, the alteration of green infrastructure is minimal in calabar but occur frequently in Port

Harcourt through informal actions and poor environmental planning. Meanwhile, realizing sustainable aesthetics and quality

environment in Port Harcourt requires warning and mechanism to abate alteration, conversion and exclusion of green

infrastructure in various physical planning. This may be realising through the protection and proper management of the physical

environment.

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Recommendations

To minimise the alteration of green infrastructure in Port Harcourt and sustain developed greens in calaba, the following solutions

are proffered in this research

1. Application of General Urban Greens

In both cities, the government charge with urban planning activities should be vigorously involved in greening. However,

area coverage, poor instrument and limited land max, the ministry charge with urban development may be in difficulty to

green various parts of the cities. This is why the third tier of government, and non-governmental organisations and individual

green development practices should be actively integrated in term of initiatives, development and protection of green areas to

avoid alteration. The third tear of government must ensure that greening embraces every nook and cranny of Port Harcourt

and calabar urban and not just secluded to ascertain areas and parts of areas.

2. Inclusion of non- Governmental Physiques in Green Development and Protection

Greens are very significant issues for the realisation of sustainable development in both cities. Novelties of greens will be

significant for both cities due to their aesthetics, hazardous filtering, and quality health and environment contributions in

urban centres. However, the global physiques such as world health organisation, UN habitat etc are seriously sponsoring

urban green plan the whole world. And non-governmental organisations built for urban green development in these cities are

expected to ease greens as their corporate social responsibility especially in the neighbourhoods of the cities. On this note, it

is necessary to formulate schemes, drivers and spread risk planning for potential threats to greens in Port Harcourt and

sustain green infrastructure that makes calaba city more beautiful through master plan, neighbourhood campaign and

inclusion of greens in all land uses development. Diversification of green infrastructural plans and inclusion of urban

agriculture will reducing chronic health challenges and environmental problems and enhance urban morphological aesthetics

and food production.

3. Discouragement of Green Alteration/ Building on Resilient and Smart Cities

There is need to discard the factors responsible for greens alteration but encourage scientific techniques of urban greens

alteration and replanting to caution the effect of poor aesthetics and human health. Appropriate local green prevention

measure should be utilized. Prevention and protection mechanism such neighbourhood taskforce on green spaces should be

encouraged. Therefore, the government and ministry of urban development should be fully involved in the development and

protection of urban greens. As a means of reducing the loss and challenges of urban greens, it is recommended that green

development programmes in which the urban populace are involved should be encouraged. This could be achieved through

the integration of such polices in residential housing design and development.

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