Theorising Urban Spatial Planning and Economic Development in Nigeria: Toward an Integrated Framework

The relationship between urban spatial planning and economic development outcomes has been theorized extensively in the global planning literature, but theoretical frameworks adequately addressing the Nigerian urban economy-planning nexus remain underdeveloped, limiting the design of effective planning interventions. This doctoral study theorises the relationship between urban spatial planning and economic development in Nigeria, developing an original integrated framework that captures the institutional, spatial, and political economy dimensions of this relationship. Drawing on economic geography, development economics, institutional planning theory, and African urbanism scholarship, the research employs a multi-method theory-building design. The empirical program spans six years and covers five cities: Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Enugu, and Ibadan. Primary data collection involves a 2,500-enterprise economic census in each city, 120 in-depth interviews with planners and economic development officials, analysis of spatial planning decisions and their measurable economic consequences using natural experiment research designs, and qualitative comparative analysis of planning-economy institutional configurations. The research makes original contributions at three levels. Theoretically, it develops the Nigerian Urban Planning-Economy Nexus Theory articulating causal mechanisms through which planning decisions affect enterprise location, land markets, labour access, and agglomeration economy dynamics. Methodologically, it advances mixed-method approaches for studying planning-economic causality in data-scarce environments. Empirically, it generates the first comparative econometric evidence on planning-economy relationships across Nigerian city types. Recommendations translate the integrated framework into a Planning for Economic Development Handbook for Nigerian Urban Authorities, with context-differentiated guidance for cities at different development stages. Keywords: Spatial planning, Economic development, Nigeria, Integrated framework, Urban economy.