In Port Harcourt, Nigeria's oil capital and third-largest city, up to 480,000 people living in the waterfront areas of the city face the threat of demolition from the Rivers State government. One third of the city, and 79% of Nigeria's urban population, lives in what the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) defines as “slum conditions.” Mass demolitions, even the threat of mass demolition, poses the possibility of sparking widespread conflict in a country that provides almost 10% of US oil imports.
In Port Harcourt, Nigeria's oil capital and third-largest city, up to 480,000 people living in the waterfront areas of the city face the threat of demolition from the Rivers State government. One third of the city, and 79% of Nigeria's urban population, lives in what the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) defines as “slum conditions.” Mass demolitions, even the threat of mass demolition, poses the possibility of sparking widespread conflict in a country that provides almost 10% of US oil imports.
But urban development issues are complex. They defy simplistic solutions. With the support of the United States Institute of Peace, Stakeholder Democracy Network (with University of Roehampton) has developed a cutting edge, holistic initiative to move the process in Port Harcourt from demolition to participatory urban development. This initiative, called The Human City Project, includes a nested set of activities all aimed at increasing the capacity of waterfront communities to represent themselves and participate meaningfully in the shaping of their city.
The slides below have more information on The Human City Project. They are best viewed in “Fullscreen” mode.
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