Urban Morphology and Pedestrian Walkability in Mid-Size Nigerian Cities: An Empirical Study of Owerri, Imo State

Mid-size Nigerian cities occupy a critical scale in the urban hierarchy where walkability investments can produce transformative quality of life benefits yet where evidence-based planning guidance specifically calibrated to this urban scale is largely absent from Nigerian planning practice. This study empirically investigates the relationship between urban morphology characteristics and pedestrian walkability conditions in Owerri, Imo State, applying a walkability index framework developed from systematic measurement of physical environmental attributes across fourteen neighbourhood zones. Urban morphology variables measured include street network connectivity (intersection density and link-node ratio), land use mix (Simpson's diversity index across five land use categories), sidewalk provision continuity, block perimeter sizes, and building frontage transparency ratios. Walkability performance data were generated from a pedestrian travel survey administered to three hundred residents recording walking trip frequency, destination reach time, and subjective safety ratings, supplemented by objective pedestrian count data and street audit observations. Spatial regression analysis related morphological variables to walkability performance outcomes. Results identify intersection density and land use mix as the two strongest predictors of walking trip frequency, outperforming sidewalk provision in predictive power. Neighbourhood areas with intersection densities above 120 per square kilometre and Simpson's diversity indices above 0.6 show walking trip rates more than double those of low-connectivity, single-use areas. The finding challenges Owerri's current planning approach of large-block residential layouts separated from commercial zones. The study proposes a walkability-oriented zoning guideline for Owerri's next master plan revision. Keywords: urban morphology, walkability, Owerri, pedestrian environment, street network.