OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FOR URBAN AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANNING IN A POST SUBSIDY ERA IN NIGERIA

The study examined the implications of the removal of fuel subsidies on the cost of material for urban and regional development in Nigeria. The main aim of the study was to assess the impacts of subsidy removal on increase costs of building materials (housing) and transportation. The study adopted the Central Place theory propounded by Walter Christeller (1933), as its theoretical framework and applied the secondary sources of data collection method. The study found that while the removal of subsidies led to significant increase in transportation fare that in turned, adversely affected cost of building materials. This has necessitated the need for cut management and strategic planning for urban and regional renewal programmes. It also emphasized the critical role of infrastructure in driving Nigeria’s economic growth and the need for strategic investment in these areas. The study recommended that Nigeria government should carry out stakeholder consultation to develop an inclusive-policies that shall stimulate the people to unravel alternative materials for urban and regional development in Nigeria.