Physical planning and inclusive slum upgrading have been identified as important strategies for improving urban security and the quality of life in Nigerian cities.
TPL Dr. Olumuyiwa Sola Atoyebi made this submission during the maiden webinar series of the Osun State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners-Young Planners Forum (NITP-YPF), titled “Urban Security Through Physical Planning and Slum Upgrade”.
The presentation examined how urban development, infrastructure provision and neighbourhood design influence public safety.
Atoyebi explained that poorly planned urban growth can contribute to traffic congestion, inadequate infrastructure, restricted emergency access and poorly lit public spaces.
These conditions, he noted, can complicate crime prevention and emergency response, creating vulnerabilities that undermine neighbourhood safety.
He emphasised that urban security extends beyond conventional policing to include effective land-use planning, accessible roads, reliable public services, environmental design and community participation.
According to him, practical interventions such as street lighting, connected road networks, clear sightlines and active public spaces can improve neighbourhood accessibility and support natural surveillance.
On informal settlements, Atoyebi advocated upgrading existing neighbourhoods rather than making residents’ displacement the default approach.
Atoyebi highlighted the need to improve access to clean water, electricity, waste collection and stormwater drainage, while strengthening land tenure security and protecting established community networks.
He also stressed the importance of involving residents in identifying local security concerns, mapping infrastructure deficiencies, prioritising interventions and maintaining public facilities.
The town planner further noted that effective urban security requires collaboration among planning authorities, local governments, law enforcement agencies, service providers and community groups, adding that trust, sustained communication and local knowledge were identified as essential elements of such partnerships.
Atoyebi proposed a practical implementation framework involving neighbourhood assessment, collaborative planning, prioritisation of interventions, project delivery and periodic evaluation.
He concluded that safer and more liveable cities require coordinated action that combines sound physical planning, adequate infrastructure, inclusive neighbourhood upgrading and trusted community partnerships.
Atoyebi added that the recommendations are particularly relevant to rapidly growing urban centres seeking to strengthen public safety while promoting sustainable and socially inclusive development.
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