Assessment of residents’ perception of neighbourhood quality and quality oof life in Ogbomoso, Nigeria.

Abstract

Quality of life is a concept that is highly important to urban planning as the overall essence of urban planning is to make life enjoyable for the people. Since, the neighbourhood represents an important geographical entity in the city where people find satisfaction with life; satisfactions with the neighbourhood features are significant predictors of quality of life. Ogbomoso is characterised by pressures of urbanisation, ineffective urban planning, poor road transport infrastructure, poor waste management and sanitation, inadequate water supply, poorly designed residential blocks, low liveability, poverty and unemployment. This is why this study investigated the neighbourhood quality features that impact the quality of life of the residents of Ogbomoso to develop new approaches for urban planning and management. Through convenient sampling, two neighbourhoods were randomly selected in the transition residential zone of Ogbomoso using Google Earth Imagery and a total of 200 questionnaires were administered using systematic random sampling in each block of the neighbourhoods. The quality of life of the residents for this study was assessed using twenty-three indicators grouped under physical, social and economic features. The findings revealed that the presence of neighbourhood market (4.0), calm and serene environment (3.96), health and safety (3.95), high regard for the elders (3.91) and affordable housing rents (3.85) are the top neighbourhood quality features that have highly impacted the residents of Ogbomoso. The study recommended the adoption of the five principles of sustainable neighbourhoods to develop neighbourhoods in Ogbomoso and to empower the local communities in partnership with the town planning authorities and other key stakeholders to plan and manage their neighbourhoods.