CITY CENTRE REDEVELOPMENT: SOCIO ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS IN IKOT EKPENE URBAN, AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA

Purpose: Redevelopment and relocation procedures in Nigerian cities frequently benefits the government and also helps in the proper control of positive development of a city. This study assesses the city centre redevelopment and its socio-economic implications in Ikot Ekpene urban. The study was restricted to the Central Business District of Ikot Ekpene urban.Design/methodology/approach: To achieve this, the study was restricted to the Central Business District of Ikot Ekpene urban. This involves the core area of about 14,000 m2 and expanded area of about 3 km2 from the city centre. A sample size of 400 respondents was taken from the projected population of the study area by the application of Taro Yammane sample size technique. A total of 400 questionnaires was administered using both simple random and purposive sampling technique to respondents in the study area. Percentages and Relative Satisfaction Index (RSI) was used to analysed the level of satisfaction by the respondents.Findings: The result revealed that there is positive relationship. The RSI indicated that 75.75% respondents were satisfied with the redevelopment project in the city centre, 17.17% partially satisfied and 7.08% were not satisfied with the redevelopment project. The study revealed the redevelopment of the city centre therefore represent a strong revitalization strategy in an overall land use planning. Originality/value: The study recommends the introduction of the concept of pedestrianisation, disembarkation point and a lot more which will lead to a total transformation of the study area. The city centre redevelopment effort into a public square is a good thing to happen in the study area.