| ABSTRACT |Volume 1, Issue 4, Pages 152-157 (June 2015)

Research article EFFECTS OF COSMETIC URBAN-REGENERATION ON POVERTY ALLEVIATION OF PEOPL-NIGERIAN EXPERIENCE. | Bello Nurudeen Akinsola | Oyedele Joseph B | and | Ibrahim Tajudeen Akogun |. American Journal of Innovative Research and Applied Sciences. 2015; 1(4):152-157. | PDF FULL TEXT|

ABSTRACT Background: The essence of any urban- regeneration program is to elevate the living condition of the people as well as elevate the urban centre’s functions brought down by informal and uncontrolled urbanization, but this must be done with the consciousness of the likely negative impacts that may accompany such program especially on socio-economic life of the people. Objective: This study examined the approach of Ogun State Government, Nigeria on road reconstruction/widening as a form of urban regeneration and its effect on poverty level of the people of Abeokuta, the State capital. Methods: 313 questionnaires (representing 5% of 6,247 affected properties) were administered on the affected owners/occupiers of properties on the six (6) selected roads undergoing reconstruction in the city. Results: Using frequency count, the study’s results revealed that the urban- regeneration program of road widening/reconstruction rather elevated the poverty level of people in the short run, but with anticipated improved welfare/poverty alleviation in the long run. The paper thereby recommended that in attempt to redress the effect of informal/uncontrolled urbanization, Government should have a program to cushion the short run negative impacts on the people before the long run positive impact start unfolding. Keywords: Urban Centre, Urban-Regeneration, Poverty-Alleviation, Road Reconstruction.