Urban Planning Challenges and Prospects in Nkambe Town, Northwest Region of Cameroon

Abstract

For over three decades or so, urbanisation and urban development alongside urban planning have become a cardinal issue to urban dwellers, government institutions and professionals in the developed and developing countries. It is in this regard that this paper examines urban planning challenges and prospects in Nkambe town. The growing population of Nkambe like in other emerging Cameroonian towns suffers from the problem of socio-economic and environmental problems and need adequate urban spatial planning. Field surveys, observations, interview with the administration, questionnaire administration, interviews and on-the-spot appraisals constituted the main data sources. Three focus group discussions were carried out which was complemented by secondary sources. The results indicated that the driving forces of urban disorder were population increase manifested through inadequate enforcement of its plan, non-respect of building codes, poverty and limited houses with potable drinking water, business conflicts, inadequate health facilities, and increasing crime waves. The study recommended that there is a need for a change of mentality of the Nkambe man towards an awareness that the town has its carrying capacity and when overstretched could lead to devastating respond in an undesirable manner probably in future.