International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research Volume 12, Issue 3, March-2021 731 ISSN 2229-5518 Manner of Utilization of Implementation Funds for the Greater Port Harcourt City Master Plan Implementation Johnbull Simeipiri Wenike1 and Ikiriko Tamunoikuronibo Dawaye2 Urban and Regional Planning Department, Rivers State University, Nkpolu, Port Harcourt Email1: [email protected] 2 Email : [email protected] Abstract Policies, projects and programmes are adequately expressed through a plan and such plan can hardly be implemented in the face of paucity, inadequate and inappropriate disbursement of funds for implementation. This study engages both quantitative and qualitative investigations to ascertain the total amount of fund that was allocated and revenue generated in the Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority from 2009-2019; and also ascertain the avenues these funds were distributed in the process of the implementation of the Greater Port Harcourt City Master Plan. This class of study belongs to the explanatory sequential mixed method research design. The geographical scope of the study is the Phase 1 area of the study location which comprises of the Mbodo-Aluu, Omagwa and Igwuruta communities in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State. Both in-depth key informant interview and secondary data from GPHCDA were annexed to adjudicate appropriate analysis of the submissions on the financial capacity of Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority (GPHCDA) based on the inflow and outflow of funds within the planning period of 2009-2019. An analysis was made to determine the fiscal performance of the Authority during the implementation of the GPHCMP (2009-2019). Issues of compensation and land allocation (Land Compensation Claims Settled by GPHCDA, Educational Layout Compensation Payment at Mbodo-Aluu, Structures Acquired and Compensation Paid in Phase 1A, Compensation for Crops Paid in Phase 1A) were evidently captured as part of the activities in the implementation process. Keywords: Implementation Fund, Manner of Utilization, Master Plan, Port Harcourt INTRODUCTION Metropolitan Lagos, prepared in 1962 (Ede, Owei and The place of implementation in the planning process cannot Akarolo, 2011). This was followed by Travallion’s Master be overemphasized. The impact of a policy, project and Plan for Kano prepared in 1963. In 1967, Max Lock produced programme can hardly be felt in the face of inadequate and the Kaduna Master Plan. Between 1970 and 1980 Master inappropriate disbursement of fund for implementation. Plans were prepared for urban centres in a number of states Politics and public policy are the major factors that created in 1967 and 1976 (Ede, et al, 2011). These cities determine urban development; Master Plan for urban include Jos, Benin City, Sokoto, Yola, Maiduguri, Calabar, development is one of the policy documents (Keunta, 2010). Ilorin, Owerri, Bauchi, Akure, Minna, Makurdi, Port Harcourt, It influences the growth ofIJSER urban population, land use, and Abuja. In addition to these, many state governments infrastructure development and service provision. prepared Master Plans for towns in their respective states. Implementation of the Master Plan determines the level of For instance, in Rivers State, the post-civil war period of the development of the geographical area it is meant to address. 1970s witnessed an extensive preparation of Master Plans A Master Plan is usually designed for a specific period of for towns in Rivers State. In Port Harcourt, physical planning time, between ten and thirty years. It consists of an inventory began with the application of the Garden City concept by the of existing development in the geographic area of interest as colonial administration in laying out the old Township and well as proposals for future development. Government Reservation Area (GRA), followed by the first Master Plan prepared by Professor Elon, an Israeli (Obinna, Failure to implement plans has long been considered a Owei and Okwakpam,2010). significant barrier to effective planning (Berke, Backhurst, Day, Ericksen, Laurian, Crawford, and Dixon; 2006). Calkins Expansion in economic activities accompanied by increased (1979) names the lack of plan implementation as “new plan in-migration led to the rapid growth of the city. It was syndrome”, explaining that plans are continuously redone or immediately obvious that the initial planning schemes were updated without regard to the implementation status of the not adequate to respond to the dynamics of population original plan. growth and spatial expansion of Port Harcourt. The first military administration of the state under Commander Alfred In Nigeria and indeed many developing countries, the Diete-Spiff launched a major planning initiative, first to practice of comprehensive physical planning is common. designate the headquarters of the administrative divisions of This popularity is evident from the numerous Master Plans the state as urban centers and then secondly to prepare which have been prepared for various towns in the post-civil Master Plans to guide their development. A total of nineteen war era (i.e., as from 1970) in Nigeria, especially following Master Plans were prepared as earlier indicated. the creation of states in 1967. The Port Harcourt Master Plan of 1975 was prepared by The first attempt to produce a comprehensive urban Master Swedish Consultants: Specialists Konsult. It was the last one Plan in the country was Koenigsberger’s Master Plan for of this generation of Master Plans (Owei, et al., 2005). A IJSER © 2021 http://www.ijser.org International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research Volume 12, Issue 3, March-2021 732 ISSN 2229-5518 second generation of Master Plans was initiated by the According to the pioneer Administrator of the Authority, the administration of Chief Melford Okilo between 1979 and whole project was “a call to duty with the mission to build a 1983. Under a hastily created Directorate of New Towns and world class Garden City, thriving economically, operating Conurbations, Master Plans were prepared for Boro efficiently, prosperously and assuring its residents a quality (Kaiama), Oyigbo, Woji, Abua, Ekeremor and Bori New of life envied for its peacefulness, comfort and sustainability” Towns, though the initiative died as the administration was (Cookey-Gam, 2011). ousted on December 31, 1983. Was adequate fund budgeted and appropriated for the The most recent response by the Rivers State Government implementation of the GPHCDA master plan? How much is the focus of this study. In 2008, the Rivers State was released? What are the avenues or activities that those Government had a vision for Greater Port Harcourt as “a funds were used for? These are cogent questions this paper thriving city, economically vibrant and diverse, a world class is designed to answer. city, a garden city whose citizens enjoy an enviable quality of life, a sought-after tourist destination, a model city, an AIM OF THE STUDY inspiration and a monument to what can be achieved through The aim of this study is to assess the manner of utilization of determined and coordinated effort” (Rivers State intervention resources provided for the implementation of the Government, 2008). It was, therefore, necessary that a plan Master Plan from its inception in 2009 to 2019. The be prepared that would be used to co-ordinate and integrate objectives of the research are to: various projects in the direction of the overall vision. The i. Ascertain the total amount of fund that was allocated Rivers State Government appointed Arcus GIBB, a and revenue generated in the Greater Port Harcourt multidisciplinary team of development professionals, in 2008 City Development Authority from 2009-2019; and to prepare the Greater Port Harcourt City Master Plan ii. Ascertain the avenues these funds were distributed (GPHCMP). The plan had a two-pronged focus; one was to in the process of the implementation of the Greater set out the path to urban renewal and transformation of the Port Harcourt City Master Plan. old city, and secondly provide direction for the development of the New City in accordance with the vision. This is to be achieved in two areas: urban renewal of the old city and building of a new city for the 21st century with high urban SCOPE OF THE STUDY quality and planned open spaces that will become a worthy The geographical scope of the study will cover the Phase 1 global player that will be an example to other African area of the study location that comprises the Mbodo-Aluu, countries (GPHCMP, 2008). Omagwa and Igwuruta communities. Phase 1 commenced in 2009 but it is still at the construction stage of the project According to Arcus Gibb (2008), the process of reinstating cycle and is expected to be completed by 2020. Phase 1 2 Port Harcourt as a functional urban area was to focus on the layout covers 1,692.07ha (16.921km ), extending from the following objectives: Port-Harcourt International Airport junction across to i. Improving traffic congestionIJSER and flow; Professor Tam David-West Road and part of Igwuruta. ii. Establishing a hierarchy of roads and movements; However, the intellectual scope is to assess the manner of iii. De-densifying residential cluttering and upgrading utilization of intervention resources provided for the informal settlements; implementation of the Master Plan from its inception in 2009 iv. Cleaning up the city in terms of refuse removal; to 2019. v. Defining urban precincts and critical urban elements that improve urban form; and vi. Providing good infrastructure and service standards BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT THE STUDY and providing guidelines for good governance to ensure a AREA long-term implementation and sustainability. Old Port Harcourt City was a port city established in 1913 The Greater Port Harcourt City Master Plan is a holistic plan during British colonial rule. It was named after Lord Lewis for the development of the Greater Port Harcourt City Area, Harcourt, the then British Secretary of State for the Colonies which spans eight Local Government Areas of Rivers State, (Owei, et al., 2010; Ede et al., 2011).