The Effect of Urbanization on the Living Condition of Mpape Residents in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory

Urbanization in the 21st century has resulted in the rapid growth of cities globally and in particular in Nigeria. The rapid growth of Nigerian cities has seriously outstripped the capacity of most cities to provide and maintain adequate basic services to their residents. Abuja has been experiencing increasing concentration of people in the suburbs, such as Mpape in Bwari Area Council without a corresponding infrastructural provision and maintenance of existing ones. This has resulted in undue pressure on the existing infrastructure and challenges on urban environment and residents living condition. This study examines the effect of urbanization on the living condition of Mpape residents in Abuja. The study adopted survey design and purposive sampling procedure to select its subjects from Mpape. In-depth-interview was conducted for informants. It was descriptively analyzed. Findings from the study show that housing and social infrastructure like road network, healthcare facilities among others, are grossly inadequate and lacking, while the available ones are in deplorable and pathetic state. The sanitary condition of the area is deplorable, typical of a slum settlement. The study concluded that urbanization and population growth led to uncontrolled and unplanned settlements in urban area of Abuja with serious effect on the environment and the living condition of residents. The study recommended that the government both at the local and federal level should enforce proper planning and development control policy in the area and effectively implement infrastructural development to ameliorate the challenges confronting the area as a result of urbanization and population growth.