Planning and Socioeconomic implications of Highway Widening in Lagos Metropolis: A study of Oworonshoki–Unilag project

Abstract

This study examines the extent to which the expansion of the UNILAG–Bariga road corridor affected residents and buildings along the corridor, with a view to determining how these impacts have influenced compliance with physical planning regulations in the study area. Data for the study were collected from 316 building owners using a systematic random sampling technique. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics. The findings revealed that 57.8% the buildings in the study area failed to comply with the statutory 6-metre minimum front setback requirement, resulting in encroachment on the road right-of-way. The study further established that 83.5% of the respondents lost less than 10% of their building frontage to the road expansion, while 16.1% lost between 10% and 20%, and only 0.4% lost more than 20%. In addition, the study identified several adverse effects associated with the road expansion, including reduction in plot size (19.7%), increased exposure to intruders following the demolition of perimeter fences (15.5%), loss of on-site parking spaces due to the reduction in front setbacks (14.9%), and increased on-street parking (13.4%). The study concludes that, despite the short-term disruptions and property losses experienced during project implementation, the road expansion has significantly improved accessibility and enhanced the environmental quality of the corridor. It therefore recommends that planning authorities review the existing minimum setback requirement for established road corridors and adopt context-sensitive setback standards that reflect the physical characteristics and functional requirements of different urban corridors while ensuring public safety, operational efficiency, and urban aesthetics.