TPL. Anierobi, Christopher Maduka(_{rtp, mnitp.})Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, christopher.anierobi@unn.edu.ng

INTRODUCTION

Omor town is an emerging city in Anambra State of Nigeria. The current rapid urbanization challenges facing Omor town have provided great prospects for town planning in the area. As one of the most populous community in Anambra State, the rapid growth and development of Omor is a prospect for effective town planning actions towards realizing a coordinated land use activities for sustainable human settlement. Presently, Omor town is urbanizing rapidly with remarkable transformations in socio-economic activities. The available human and natural resources in Omor town has orchestrated an increasing influx of population which has further generated more transportation demand for people, goods and services as well as increasing number of buildings, commercial activities, industrial and educational activities among many other land uses that  characterized urbanization. Rapid population growth and migration have been identified as major factors of urbanization The United Nations, (2012) had projected that by 2011-2050, the urban population of the world will increase from 3.6 billion to 6.3 billion with emphasis to the cities and towns of developing and less developed countries. These poses a great challenge to towns in Nigeria including Omor. The enactment of the Nigeria Urban and Regional Planning Law, 1992 was to ensure a properly planned built environment hence, adoption and implementation of the law will enhance the urbanization of the towns and cities in the country.

Incidentally, the challenges that come with urbanization that are manifesting in Omor town are just as in most urbanizing cities of developing countries like Onitsha, Awka, Nnewi, Enugu, PortHarcourt, Lagos, Kano among others in  Nigeria and beyond. Such challenges presents a huge prospect for “Town Planning” in host communities in order to ensure a sustainable development of the environment.

Incidence of Urbanization in Omor Town

Urbanization is a phenomenon by which a human settlement is transformed from rural to urban environment. In line with the views of Mba, Efobi and Ogbazi, (1982) as well as Uchegbu and Anierobi, (2014); Urbanization entail the increase of a population in a settlement in excess of about 5 million people and increasing growth rate characterized by expansion and transition from homogenous to heterogeneous population, primary to secondary and tertiary productivity as well as increased infrastructural facilities and land use activities.

In view of the above definition, the transformation of Omor town from a rural to an urban economy dates back to the  1980s. The hitherto rural economy was drastically transformed with the establishment of the Lower Anambra-Imo River Basin Development Authority (AIRBDA) in Omor town by which the Lower Anambra Irrigation Project (LAIP) was executed for rice production in Ayamelum clan. The construction of the Onitsha-Nsukka express road through Omor town and the subsequent electrification of the town were contributory factors which by the 1990s engendered industrialization and commercialization into the urbanization process in Omor. These events turned around the fortunes of Omor from the hitherto rural settlement to an attractive hub of socio-economic activities with an unprecedented influx of people from far and near such as Nsukka, Onitsha, Port Harcourt, Lagos, Kaduna, all over Nigeria; Ghana and other African countries as well as expatriates from Europe and other countries from overseas including Japan on a technical corporation with the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Today, Omor town is inundated with increasing number of industries for primary, secondary and tertiary production of goods and services as well as commercial and institutional establishments both governmental and nongovernmental institutions and organizations. These have constituted a growth pole factors for Omor town. Anierobi, (2019) and Mabogunje, (1980) opined that natural growth factors can be strategic geographical location which makes for a “growth center” and existence of natural resource base which attracts “growth poles”. These growth factors engender expansion of physical development of a settlement and such is the case of Omor town. Such expansion of settlements if not guided by “Town Planning” will degenerate into slums and squalor. In view of these, the need for immediate “Town Planning” interventions in Omor town cannot be overemphasized.

Urbanization Challenges and Prospect of Town Planning in Omor

The current urbanization process in Omor presents the needed opportunity for planning the environment of the town for functionality and aesthetic quality, safety and health as well as the comfort and convenience of residents. Moreover, the spontaneous physical and socioeconomic developments in Omor town occasioned by the emergence of massive infrastructural facilities and amenities since the 1980s needs to be planned. These have improved on the opportunities for greater employment and income generation, better living conditions for the people and increased population and overall growth and development while also threatening the natural serenity of the area. At such, the town is experiencing modifications of the natural environment occasioned by haphazard physical development, increased deforestation and lose of biodiversity including flora and fauna hence, the need to entrench harmony by town planning. There is increasing human population and high occupancy ratio, incompatibility of the ever increasing industrial, commercial, institutional  and educational activities as well as socioeconomic activities among other land uses in the town. The aesthetic quality and tranquil environment is hampered by the modifications in the course of physical development. The ensuing crises includes unplanned housing and infrastructural facility locations, poor road network, increasing human, animal and vehicular traffics and congestion, indiscriminate waste disposal, encroachment and obstruction of access roads and water ways as well as pollution among other challenges that deteriorate the built environment. These are only but some of the effects of Urbanization on Omor town. Despite the various urbanization challenges, the prospects for “Town Planning” abounds in Omor as offered in various forms. These includes geographical and physical, economical, demographical, political, socio-cultural, Administrative and security potentials among others. 

Geographically, Omor town is amenable to urbanization due to its physical central location among eight communities in the heart of Ayamelum Local Government Area as well as being one of the largest towns in Anambra state, Nigeria. Situated on latitude 6.5117⁰N and longitude 6.9612⁰E, ( Google earth, 2010) the strategic geographical location of Omor within undulating topography lends itself to conurbation and a natural growth center among other adjourning communities in Ayamelum clan and beyond including: Anaku, Umerum, Umumbo, Omasi, Umueje, Ifite-Ogwari and Igbakwu which are attracted to Omor for socio-economic integration. These facilitating factors driving the growth and urbabization of Omor town, coupled with the endearing fact that Omor plays the “Big Brother” role among sister communities in the Ayamelum clan by offering the needed aids and protection with its inherent  comparative advantage and hospitality.

Demographically, Omor town has grown over time from a population census figure of 7,196 people in 1952/1953 census to an estimated 149,094 in 2017 and 155,842 people in 2019 spread  (Nwalieji, 2019) within a land mass of about 98sqkm. Omor is made up of four quarters namely Orenja, Akanator, Aturia and Amikwe comprising of 20-villages embodied with administrative structure for ease of local governance for social security and welfare. Incidentally, containing the increasing present and future growth and expansion of the town in terms of housing, infrastructural facilities and amenities among others for a conducive environment requires “Town Planning” so as to avert chaos.

Politically, Omor has a promising political economy with about 40% of the political strength of Ayamelum L.G.A. Presently, Omor  has 3-wards  out of the 11-political wards and 21-polling units out of the 54-polling units in the entire Ayamelum Local Government Area. At such, Omor is naturally attractive to politicians and political investments. Besides, some illustrious sons and daughters of Omor have held political positions of authority thereby attracting socioeconomic and physical developments from government coupled with the community self help projects that Omor is known for by which roads, schools, civic centres among others have been provided . These contributes to the urbanization of the town and with the associated challenges that are yearning for “Town Planning”. 

Socio-culturally, Omor community operates with a traditional system of “Age-grade” administrative structure. This system enhances local governance in the community and the actualization of community self-help development projects such as provision of community social security, roads, markets, schools, civic centers and water supply among other land uses.

These have fostered rapid urbanization in Omor town as well availability of infrastructural facilities and amenities including: building of Community Schools; Town Halls, Civic Centers, Markets and many others that makes for better living condition.  However, the socio-cultural endowments of Omor has facilitated urbanization of the town, although not without the associated urbanization challenges which can be easily addressed with “Town Planning”.

Economically, Omor town has the largest economy in Ayamelum L.G.A and one of the largest in Anambra State and at such, referred to as the “food-basket of Anambra state” and indeed, Nigeria at large thereby attracting a great influx of people and various land use activities. The booming economy of Omor town is greatly facilitating the urbanization process in the town. The need therefore for a proper town planning to harmonize the socioeconomic and haphazard physical development in Omor town cannot be overemphasized.

Security wise, the rapid expansion of Omor town calls for a planned street patterns, residential layouts and compatibility in land use locations among others so as to update and strengthen the prevailing security architecture of the town whose people are known to be naturally hospitable and readily their brother’s keeper. Although an exclamation of the word “Omor-dooo!” is always responded to with the alacrity of “Igulubeism” that is the “spirit of valor” in an Omor man that propels him to conquer grounds against all odds as portrayed by Anierobi, (2019); current and future security challenges require more scientific measures which in turn requires “Town Planning”. It follows therefore that proper physical development planning which ensures: adequate access roads to all parts of town, building setbacks; adequate road networks with adequate road furniture;  standard size and suitable location of land uses and land use activities such as the markets, schools, motor parks, churches, community halls, civic and recreational centers, workshops, open spaces, public utilities and utility like electricity, water, police posts/stations as well as utility lines among others. These are the prospects of “Town Planning” for a conducive living and working environment in Omor town.

It view of table 1; it is evident that the identified urbanization challenges facing Omor town are also experienced in most towns and cities of developing countries like Nigeria. At such, Anierobi, (2019) posited that the shared experiences of “urbanization dilemma” emanate from the neglect of “Town Planning” which have resulted to unplanned physical development that characterize the peculiar chaotic nature of some towns and cities. However, the chaotic nature of development in towns and cities needs to be explored as they can better be described as “Resilience” and yearning for remedy by “Town Planning” actions.

Table 1: Highlights for Town Planning Actions in Omor Town

S/N	Identified Urbanization Challenges	Prospects/ Actions for Town Planning of Omor
1.	Lack of Streets, Street naming & Street Furniture: Gutters, Street lights, landscaping	Street delineation (Minimum of 10 meters width) with furniture, landscaped and Properly Named
2.	Designed Layout/ Urban Renewal	Planned Residential Neighbourhoods for the new areas (Obi-ofu). Urban Renewal for the old enclaves (ime-obodo).
3.	Poor Road Network / Connectivity	Standard Roads (about 15m width), Properly linked to interconnect land uses in Neighborhoods
4.	Poor Drainage Channels & Water ways	A planned pattern of drainages & Water ways to prevent flooding.
5.	Inaccessible Residences/ Land uses	Right of way to and access roads for all land uses and Residences.
6.	Incompatible Land uses	Segregation of incompatible land uses, relocation & resettlement. Land use zoning.
7.	Inadequate and Lack of Housing/ Community facilities	Creation of Residential Neighbourhood Layouts; Utility planning & Urban Renewal
8.	Scarcity/ High cost of Land	Land Use Planning, Zoning and or Subdivision
9.	Blightedness and Slum formation	Upgrading, Rehabilitation and or Redevelopment
10.	Road Congestion	Relocation, Resettlement & Road expansion
11.	Indiscriminate dumping of refuse	Delineation of Municipal Refuse receptacles across Neighbourhoods in Omor town.
12.	Proliferation of Small scale industries, Rice mills and Home based enterprise.	Creation of industrial Layouts, Land use zoning and Relocation/Resettlement schemes for incompatible land uses.

Recommendations and Conclusions

Urbanization is inadvertently challenging the development in  Omor town and it is pertinent to enlighten, sensitize and conscientize the populace to act now towards addressing the existing and emanating urbanization challenges. The leadership of Omor town should as a matter of urgent public concern undertake “Town Planning” so as to prevent the emergence of urban cramp and urban slum formation in Omor. The case of the notorious “Okpoko slum” in Anambra State is a nearby notorious example of what “urbanization without town planning” can do in a settlement.

Short and long term “Town Planning” measures can be adopted towards addressing the urbanization challenges facing Omor town. On the short term, “Urban Renewal” should be carried out in the inner-enclaves (ime-obodo) so as to remedy slum areas and avert urban decay of developing areas. On the long-term, “Layout Designs and Planning Schemes” should be prepared for the outer-enclaves (obi-ofu) and virgin areas that still lies fallow waiting for physical development. This is because those areas are the future residential areas of the “future generation” of Omor town (Anierobi, 2019). These will help actualize the Prospective actions for Town Planning of Omor town as stipulated in table 1 and 2.

Table 2. Some Town Planning Requirements for Omor Town

S/N	Roads and Land Uses in the Built Environment of Omor Town	Recommended Town Planning Standard Requirements
1.	Road Networks from within the Quarters of Omor town and linking to the Nsukka-Onitsha Express way (i.e. Iyiato Akanator, Eriochana, Ezenu roads both to Nkwo Omor and to Eri Ochana and Obiofu etc).	12-15 Meters width (Building Setbacks should be a minimum of 20-25 meters)
2.	Road Networks from within the Quarters of Omor and linking to Nkwo-Erieke-Omor Junction road (e.g. Eri Isiogwari, Eri Amaukwu, Eri College Akanator, Eri Ituku, Eri Hall, Eri Eze-Onyia, Eri Amikwe,  Eri-Obiofu Omor etc).	10-12 Meters width (Building Setbacks should be a minimum of  15-20 meters)
3.	Road Networks from within or Inter Quarters of Omor and linking the Quarters or the various villages (e.g. All the roads linking Akanator to Aturia,  Aturia to Amikwe, Amikwe to Orenja, Orenja to Akanator Quarters as well as the inter village roads within these Quarters of Omor).	8-10 Meters width (Building Setbacks should be a minimum of  10-15 meters)
4.	Road Networks linking various Land uses such as Residential, Commercial, Recreational, Institutional etc within the Quarters or the various villages therein (e.g. All the roads linking to Houses, Schools, Shopping Centers/Markets, Buildings etc within Orenja, Akanator, Aturia, Amikwe Quarters  and the villages of Omor).	6-8 Meters width (Building Setbacks should be a minimum of  6-10 meters)
5.	These Roads will have Drainage channels/ Gutters, Utility lines (for electric poles and wires, telecommunication network cables, water pipes, Street lights etc) as well as Pedestrian Walk way.	These will require 3-4 Meters depending on the road hierarchy as well as the required setback..

The above measures are intended to ensure:

1. Standard Access roads to properly link the various ever-increasing land uses and land use activities and organized open spaces, infrastructural facilities and amenities in Omor town;
2. Proper delineation of “Land uses” and “Land use activities” that ensures compatibility, functionality, flexibility, efficiency and scenic beauty of the environment of Omor town;
3. Standard drainage channels to address urban flooding;
4. Enhanced Aesthetic urban environmental quality of Omor to address blightedness, urban decay, urban cramp and urban slum formation;
5. Enhance Tourism, Recreation and open spaces for conducive relaxation and tourist attraction;
6. Enhanced location and provision of infrastructural facilities and amenities for comfort and convenience, health, safety and functionality in the “Urban environment” of Omor town;
7. Planned industrialization through delineation of “Industrial-layouts” to accommodate the littered, haphazardly growing industries in Omor town;
8. Incorporating the needed flexibility in development that makes for “Planned Urban Expansion” for better physical and socio-economic integration of Omor town;
9. Improvement on the socio-economic base of Omor town so as to attract more investors and grow the GDP of Omor town through a properly planned Town Planning oriented “resource inventory” for optimized exploration and exploitation of available abundant natural resources which 95% are presently untapped so as to attract more investors and increased Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) so as to generate meaningful employment and income for greater physical and socio-economic growth of Omor town as the “Giant of Ayamelum” and one of the greatest town in Anambra State.

Conclusively, town planning of Omor town is pertinent just as the mega city project of Anambra State is on course. The administrative hierarchy of Omor town which is the Igwe and Igwe-in-Council and the Omor Town Union should as a matter of urgency galvanize the Community-Based-Organizations (CBOs) in collaboration with indigenous professionals and also tap into the available “Donor agencies” like World Banks, WHO, FADAMA,CBN, USAID, ADB as well as the Anambra State Government development programmes so as to ensure the actualization of a proper “Town Planning” in Omor town.

References

Anierobi, C. M. (2019). Towards town planning for Omor: An emerging city in Anambra State, Nigeria. Omor Renaissance.

Google earth, (2010)

Mabogunje, A. L. (1980). The development Process: A spatial perspective. London:     Hutchinson

Mba, Efobi & Ogbazi, (1982). Principles and practice of urban and regional planning in Nigeria. Awka: Mekslink Publishers

Nwalieji, H. U. (2019). Omor, the rice food basket of South-Eastern Nigeria. Omor Renaissance.

United Nations (2012). World population prospects: The 2012-Revision.   Department of Economic and Social Affairs. www.un.org

Uchegbu and Anierobi, (2014): Urban land use planning and administration in Nigeria:          A case for land accessibility for poor communities in Enugu, Nigeria. A conference paper presented for the Association of African Planning School    (AAPS) in South Africa.