Nigeria is one of the West African countries endowed with rich cultural heritage, sourced from its multicultural communities. (Onyima, 2016). Its culturally diversified nature is a boost to its potential as a tourist nation, which has contributed to the development of arts, culture and tourism. The cultural heritage can be classified into two types namely: TANGIBLE and INTANGIBLE Cultural Heritage.
Tangible Heritage includes Buildings, Historical Places, Sites, and Monuments etc. While the Intangible Heritage includes Cultural Practices, Knowledge, Skills, Festivals etc which are considered worthy of preservation for posterity and is only possible in a safe and friendly environment.
The future, survival and sustenance of these cultural patrimony is jeopardized at the face of
rising environmental challenges, these varies from flood, global warming, pollution,
desertification, climate change, extinction of species and urbanization etc. which normally
occurs as a result of human activities and interaction with her physical and cultural
environment.
The existence of these cultural treasures in our society is an added value to the history,
education and tourism of the state.
Lagos state has quite a number of monuments situated within its landscape and four (4) out of
these numbers are recognized as scheduled monuments by National Commission for Museums
and Monuments. This includes Water house, Old secretariat, Ilojo bar, and Iga idungara.
Lagos is one the most populated states in Nigeria with high population density if not checked
and managed will pose a great challenge to its cultural heritage.
It is one the thirty six (36) states in Nigeria, sited in the South Western geopolitical zone of
Nigeria. The state was created on 27 th May, 1967, according to the state creation and
Transitional Provisions Decree No 14, of 167.
The state is bounded on the North and East by Ogun State, in the west, it shares boundaries
with the Republic of Benin and behind its Southern borders, lie the Atlantic Ocean, 22% of its
3.577km 2 are lagoon and creeks.
It is the most economical state of the country and a major financial centre and would be the
fifth largest economy in Africa if it were a country. Lagos state has the largest urban area in the
country, with a population figure of 17.5 million. (Lagos State, GIS unit);
URBANIZATION IN VIEW AND DEFINITION:Industrialization has historically led to urbanization by creating economic growth and job opportunities that draw people to cities. Throughout the history of human civilization, urbanization patterns have been the strongest, near large bodies of water. Initially, this was just to meet the water and food needs of large populations.
However, since the Industrial Revolution in 1760, the trend of urbanization along waterways has
continued because large bodies of water are needed to sustain industry. Not only do many businesses
require large quantities of water to manufacture products, but they also depend on oceans and rivers
for the transportation of goods. This is partially why 75% of the world’s largest urban areas are in coastal
regions.
Reverend Thomas Mathus (1778) an English Clergy and Economist argue in his work .titled
‘’Essay on the Principle of Population,’’ that population is growing at a geometric progression,
while the Agricultural output (means) is growing at an arithmetic progression. This means that
population will out strip the available resource and thus signified disaster politically,
economically and socio-culturally.
Urbanization refers to the population shift from rural areas to urban areas. The gradual
increase in the proportion of people living in urban areas, and the ways in which each society
adapts to this change (Wikipedia).
Akin Mabogunje (1968), in his work on “URBANIZATION IN NIGERIA”, said urbanization in
Nigeria is described and on the basis of the population increases, an urban hierarchy is
suggested, with Lagos on the top growing at a sustained rate four times, the national average.
Thus the rapid rate of urbanization in Nigeria is characteristic of economic growth with
development.
According to Aliyu (2017), he argued that urbanization in Nigeria is mainly demographically
driven without commensurate socio economic dividends and benefits to the urban
environment.
Urbanization is proceeding on an unprecedented scale in Lagos; the rapid and frequently
uncontrolled development is transforming urban areas and their surroundings. This
transformation may cause fragmentations and deterioration of heritage site and monuments
within the state.
Over the last few decades, modern urbanization including investments in modern infrastructure
in Central Business District of Lagos has led to intensive changes in land use.
Urbanization particularly in terms of private housing construction constitutes mounting threats
to cultural heritage sites in Lagos. Thus archaeological sites, traditional and colonial
architectural designed edifices are at the verge of demolition and being taken over by
numerous interested parties because of their economic value.
CAUSES OF URBANIZATION:
According to Helen Fitzgerald (2017) who argued that the proportion of the world’s population living in
urban areas, which was less than 5 percent in 1800, increased to 47 percent by 2000 and is expected to
reach 65 percent by 2030. According to a 2000 United Nations report, ‘’Urbanization is the shift of
populace from a rural to an urban society. In developing countries, the reasons for people leaving rural
areas and moving to urban areas varies from country to country, but in many cases it is creating slums of
fringe dwellers unable to find suitable employment.’’
Causes of migration,leading to urbanization are listed as follows;
Political Causes-During times of political unrest, families are forced to leave their rural farming villages,
and they migrate to the urban areas in search of shelter, food and employment. When large numbers of
people are driven from their rural villages, especially in war-ravaged countries, the cities become
saturated, and slums start to grow on the outskirts of the cities.
Economic Causes
Poverty in rural areas, due to large companies creating
commercial farms and small farmers finding it harder and
harder to make a living, forcing people to move to the urban
areas in search of better employment opportunities. The rise
of industry in developing countries has provided more job
opportunities in urban areas, and cities have increased
significantly in size due to this.
Education-
Opportunities for education at universities and
technical colleges draw young people to the urban centers,
where they hope to provide better prospects for the future for
themselves and their families. Urban centers in developing
countries have become hubs of education and training, as
they are also in developed countries.
Natural Population Increase
There has been a natural increase of population in many developing countries due to improved
medical care, immunization programs, better sanitation and more widespread education. Death
rates have decreased, and there are fewer infant deaths, resulting in population growth. As
populations grow so does the urban sprawl. As the cities become overcrowded with not enough
employment to go around, more and more people live in substandard housing.
Environmental Degradation
When the natural habitat of farming families is destroyed due to deforestation, mining or
industrial expansion, they are forced to find somewhere else to live. Often small amounts of
compensation from logging and mining companies provide the funds for families to move to
urban areas, but there is no guarantee of work in the cities, and many families move there and
are forced into poverty because they cannot find enough work.
Social Causes
Many young people migrate to urban centers in search of lifestyle changes and with the desire
to become associated with the club scenes in large cities. Such scenes provide employment
opportunities, but they sadly also attract gambling and crime syndicates to develop.
(Helen Fitzgerald September 26, 2017).
IMPACTS OF URBANIZATION ON HERITAGE SITES AND MONUMENTS:
The impacts of urbanization on heritage can be viewed from its positive and negative
perspective. However, its negative perspective surpasses its positive perspective.
POSITIVE IMPACTS:
Revenue Generation:
Proper management of these colonial architectural designed edifices can help to generate
revenue, taking advantage of the high population and urban sprawl. Visitation to the
monuments will enhance revenue generation which in return can be used in maintaining the
monuments.
Social and Infrastructural Amenities:
Urbanization drives development. Heritage sites situated
within the urban areas will have social and infrastructural amenities that will compliment it
services as tourist sites. Such amenities include power, roads, hotels, banks, recreation parks,
garden, cinemas, shopping malls and plazas. This will encourage regular visitation.
NEGATIVE IMPACTS-Demolition:
This is referred to direct impact; urbanization of a geographical space is an added economic
value to the space which results into contest for limited spaces. In such scenario,heritage sites
and monuments are subject of demolition and possible take- over by vested interest. Eg,
ILOJOR BAR.
Defacement:
The monuments and heritage sites within the urban environ (Lagos), are faced
with the act of defacement. A proper view of ILOJOR BAR, WATER HOUSE AND IGA IDUGARAN,
where all forms of trading, services and economic activities are transacted within the
monument affect the façade of this cultural patrimony, if not checked it can change the
narratives of the monuments.
Encroachment:
This is an unlawful entering into a geographical space, site, and places.
Encroachment is one common act in an urbanized area, the heritage sites and monuments are
not spared in Lagos, as they are encroached to be used as car park, trading and other economic
activities. Such an act can deteriorate and deface the monument and allow for possible take-
over.
Adjoining and Clustered Building:
This is a characteristic of most building in Lagos Urban environ
because of limited space. It is a threat to monuments in Lagos. In the case of Water House, it is
difficult to clearly see the boundary between CMS BUILDING (CMS Bookshop) and Water
House. Any major structural repair on the CMS Bookshop without precautions will affect the
Water House. And in the case of Ilojo Bar even as heritage officers, we find it difficult to
ascertain its boundary because of the adjoining and clustered nature of the building within its
location.
Land Reclamation:
This is a process of creating a New Land Form from an existing land form to
be used for other purpose. The lagoons, swamp and oceans within the Lagos environ are sand
filled for residential and industrial layout. This process has not only distorted the land formation
of Lagos but the ecosystem has been altered and aquatic lives are affected. Former BAR BEACH
now called EKO ATLANTIC is a good example of land reclamation, the consequence of this
action is regular flooding during rain fall thus urban areas are at the receiving end.
Pollution:
This is a major impact of urbanization, as the population increases there is also an
increase in the pollution level. Pollution (air, water, land) put the physical and cultural
environment constantly under threat. Human activities generate all forms of pollution. Carbon
emission from heavy machine and engine, noise from moving vehicles, machine and engine
deteriorates the condition of monuments and makes the environment hostile and not
conducive for monuments located with the urban environ. Eg , water house always complained
on the carbon emissions from the generator used by the CMS Bookshop.
Comparison Between Monuments Situated in Urban Environment and Monuments Situated
in Advanced Rural Environment. Water house Lagos and Advance Rural “Brazilian Baracoon
Badagry.
WATER HOUSE – living monument, located at kakawa street, Lagos Island. Brazilian style
architecture edifice. Owned by slave returnee from Sierra Leone. Built 1864 and declared a
national monument on 27 th July, 1961.
– Noisy and Busy Environment.
– Present of Adjoined building and Clustered structure.
– Untidy environment.
– No parking space.
– The edifice need some considerable repairs.
– Accessibility Limited.
– Lacks natural environment.
– Proximity to social and infrastructural amenities.
BARACOON (CELL) MUSEUM- Living monument, located at marina road, Boekoh Quarters,
Badagry. Built by Brazilians slave merchants in 1840, declared national monument in 2003.
– Noiseless and quiet Environment.
– No Adjoined building, no clustered structure
– Clean Environment
– Edifice in good shape
– Free accessibility
– Presence of natural Environment
– Lacks proximity to social and infrastructural amenites
Recommendations;
Comprehensively drafted laws, regulations and policy on protection,
preservation, development of cultural heritage should be enacted.
Conducting of Post Heritage Impact Assessment (PHIA) on heritage sites, scheduled and
unscheduled monuments.
Future land use plans must take into account potential impacts on heritage sites and monuments
Sound, practical waste management regulations should be followed through to control the rate of
waste generation and disposal
Future urban renewal projects must take recognizant of heritage resources.
Conclusion:
Environmental crisis are becoming major threat to our rich cultural heritage. The socio economic
value of this cultural patrimony cannot be over emphasized. Man has constantly been
conditioned to take a decision as to what to do with a particular tradition, heritage and culture
whether belonging to him or not, as Nigerians and custodians of this cultural edifice, we can
choose the right path of total commitment on cultural and heritage development and
sustainability for posterity.
REFERENCESS:
- Urbanization, cities and health: the challenges to Nigeria – A review. Alhaji A. Aliyu.
- Department of Community Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Nigeria-2017.
- Urbanization in Nigeria, by Akin Mabogunje 1968.
- Impact of urbanization on ancient gardenscape of Lahore and the world monument of shalamar
garden – Mughal, Mohammad Rafigue -2005.