Research Article
Informal Settlements and Poverty Dynamics: Conceptual Insights for Sustainable Urban Planning
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 1, March 2026
Pages:
1-11
Received:
2 December 2025
Accepted:
26 December 2025
Published:
23 January 2026
Abstract: Poverty remains a defining feature of informal settlements, demanding continuous scholarly evaluation and policy attention. This paper interrogates the theoretical and conceptual underpinnings of informal settlement characterization and its intersection with poverty, situating the discussion within the broader context of urban informality. Through a systematic review and content analysis of existing literature, the study frames informality as a knowledge-based phenomenon that links the emergence of informal settlements to survival strategies adopted by urban dwellers. The findings reveal that informal settlements are characterized by precarious habitability, inadequate housing, unemployment, overcrowding, and unsustainable consumption of energy and natural resources. These conditions not only intensify poverty and poor health outcomes but also exert severe pressure on ecosystems, undermining environmental services and accelerating climate change impacts. The paper further identifies a fragmented discourse in prior scholarship, which often treats informal settlements as isolated urban processes rather than as integral to the dynamics of poverty, particularly in the Global South. By reconceptualizing informal settlements as both a product and driver of poverty, the study underscores the need for integrated approaches to urban management. It argues that sustainable responses must prioritize strategic urban planning, investment in health infrastructure, and inclusive policy frameworks that recognize the role of migrants and provide equitable access to education, household services, and urban opportunities. Ultimately, the paper proposes that continuous updating of urban development plans, coupled with inclusive governance, is essential for addressing the dual challenges of poverty and environmental vulnerability in informal settlements. Such measures are critical to advancing resilient, healthy, and sustainable urban futures, where informal settlements are not marginalized but incorporated into broader strategies of equitable urban development.
Abstract: Poverty remains a defining feature of informal settlements, demanding continuous scholarly evaluation and policy attention. This paper interrogates the theoretical and conceptual underpinnings of informal settlement characterization and its intersection with poverty, situating the discussion within the broader context of urban informality. Through ...
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Research Article
Spatial Assessment of Petrol Stations in Ibadan Metropolis Nigeria
Siji Ayodeji Joseph*
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 1, March 2026
Pages:
12-20
Received:
18 November 2025
Accepted:
30 December 2025
Published:
29 January 2026
Abstract: The number of petrol stations in Nigerian cities like Ibadan is growing rapidly without adhering to spatial planning regulations, particularly minimum distance requirements that raise safety concerns, such as petrol station fire risk, and emphasizes the need for spatial analysis to support sustainable urban growth. This study uses Geographic Information System techniques, government location criteria, and supporting literature to evaluate the spatial distribution of petrol stations in Ibadan Metropolis. A handheld Global Positioning System was used to obtain the coordinates of petrol stations, and the Nearest Neighbour Analysis was used to evaluate spatial patterns. GIS analysis reveals widespread overlapping buffers of petrol stations, implying areas of high cumulative risk following disregard for the required 400m buffer between petrol stations. Nearest Neighbour Analysis reveals clustering of petrol stations because the expected mean distance between petrol stations was 473.9 meters, whereas the observed mean distance was 346.1 meters. A statistically significant deviation from randomness was established by a Nearest Neighbour Ratio of 0.730542 and a Z-score of –6.164390. These findings demonstrate the inadequacies of current planning frameworks and the inadequate application of spatial planning regulations. The report suggests enforcing petrol station siting requirements and bolstering urban regulatory organizations to improve emergency readiness to lessen the effects of associated risks. Equally, further studies utilizing sophisticated spatial analytics and routine environmental evaluations are required.
Abstract: The number of petrol stations in Nigerian cities like Ibadan is growing rapidly without adhering to spatial planning regulations, particularly minimum distance requirements that raise safety concerns, such as petrol station fire risk, and emphasizes the need for spatial analysis to support sustainable urban growth. This study uses Geographic Inform...
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