Institutional Barriers to Climate-Responsive Urban Planning in Nigeria: A Multi-City Governance Analysis

Despite increasing recognition of climate change as an urban planning priority, institutional barriers in Nigerian planning systems continue to prevent meaningful integration of climate responsiveness into spatial plans and development controls. This doctoral study conducts a comprehensive multi-city governance analysis of institutional barriers to climate-responsive urban planning in Nigeria, examining six cities across all geopolitical zones: Lagos, Kano, Ibadan, Enugu, Port Harcourt, and Maiduguri. Drawing on institutional theory, climate governance scholarship, and African urban studies, the research develops a theoretical framework for analysing climate integration barriers in Global South planning institutions. Data collection involved 108 interviews with urban planning officials, state environment ministries, climate researchers, and civil society organizations, alongside institutional network analysis, policy document review, and participant observation in planning workshops. A cross-city comparative analysis identifies barriers operating at organizational, inter-organizational, and systemic levels. Original findings are expected to articulate a hierarchy of barrier types, distinguishing capacity barriers, resource barriers, coordination barriers, and political-economy barriers, with specific barrier configurations identified for each city type. Theoretical contributions include a Barrier Typology for Climate-Responsive Planning in West Africa and a framework for diagnosing institutional climate integration gaps. The study makes practical recommendations for targeted institutional reform, capacity building investments, and governance architecture changes that would most effectively reduce identified barriers in each context. Keywords: Climate-responsive planning, Institutional barriers, Urban governance, Nigeria, Climate change.