Market Architecture, an Effect of Roadside Trading in Port Harcourt Metropolis. A Case Study of Rumu-Woji Market, Rivers State, Nigeria

Year : 2025 | Volume : 03 | Issue : 01 | Page : 36-46
    By

    EBIKIEMO Wokoro Kosipre,

  1. Professo, Department of Architecture, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Abstract

The challenges of road side trading along major market roads in Port Harcourt Metropolis has brought about certain menace to the city. The efforts put in place by the Rivers State government to eradicate the act of roadside trading along market roads have been proven abortive. Various means employed by the government to stop the act of roadside trading have not been successful such as, relocation of traders, barricading market fences and forceful manhandling of traders and their goods, by the Rivers State task force. This act by the government has yielded no result, because the traders return to the act of roadside trading after some days. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the market architecture in Port Harcourt metropolis and identify the possible architectural issues leading to roadside trading. In order to achieve this, the type of market architecture in the study area was identified, the challenges caused by the market architecture were identified and how these challenges caused roadside trading. The research adopted the qualitative research approach. Personal observation and Interview were the means of data collection. Analysis of the data was achieved through descriptive and content analysis. The results from the study shows that the market architecture lacks inadequacy in the choice of building form, space provision for all categories of traders and inadequate location of spaces. In conclusion, the study reveals that the menace of roadside trading along market roads is architecturally inclined. And thus, the study recommends a review of the existing market architecture and subsequent market designs in Port Harcourt Metropolis in order to eradicate roadside trading.

Keywords: Market architecture, design, marketplaces, roadside trading, traders, customers, goods. markets

[This article belongs to International Journal of Urban Design and Development ]

How to cite this article:
EBIKIEMO Wokoro Kosipre. Market Architecture, an Effect of Roadside Trading in Port Harcourt Metropolis. A Case Study of Rumu-Woji Market, Rivers State, Nigeria. International Journal of Urban Design and Development. 2025; 03(01):36-46.
How to cite this URL:
EBIKIEMO Wokoro Kosipre. Market Architecture, an Effect of Roadside Trading in Port Harcourt Metropolis. A Case Study of Rumu-Woji Market, Rivers State, Nigeria. International Journal of Urban Design and Development. 2025; 03(01):36-46. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/ijudd/article=2025/view=201755


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Regular Issue Subscription Original Research
Volume 03
Issue 01
Received 11/12/2024
Accepted 13/01/2025
Published 25/01/2025
Publication Time 45 Days
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