An appraisal of urban renewal in Nigeria

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to appraise the sustainability of the Nigerian Army Shopping Arena urban renewal project in Oshodi‐Lagos, Nigeria.Design/methodology/approach – Case study research design was adopted for the study and both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods were used. Data were collected from randomly selected 94 business operators in the shopping complex using structured questionnaires, while oral interviews were conducted with two purposively selected members of the project management team. Data were also collected through non‐participant observation and analysed by using both descriptive statistics and content analysis.Findings – The project was executed using the build‐operate‐transfer (BOT) arrangement, and users were generally satisfied with facilities provided, except for the provision of utilities. Access to public facilities, creation of job opportunities, community involvement and sense of ownership, as well as the provision of facilities for pedestrian and vehicle users were considered as contributing optimally, while adherence to the principle of green design and construction was rated as contributing minimally to the sustainability of the project.Practical implications – The adoption of BOT can facilitate access to funds for urban renewal projects in the developing countries. Creation of job opportunities, ensuring users' satisfaction, community involvement and compatibility with environment can promote the sustainability of urban renewal projects in the developing countries.Originality/value – The study extents our understanding of funding mechanisms, users' satisfaction with, and the sustainability of urban renewal projects from the Nigerian perspective.