The Architecture of Creek Road Market and the Image of Port Harcourt Metropolis, Rivers State, Nigeria

Year : 2026 | Volume : 04 | Issue : 01 | Page : 13 24
    By

    Ebikiemo K.W,

  • T. Lawson,

  • Imaah N.O,

  • Pepple T.D,

Abstract

Marketplaces are seen as centers of attraction in every city. Therefore, the architecture of marketplaces should be given extensive attention to attract a positive image of the city. If the architecture of a market lacks functionality, it will affect the perception of the city. Often, market designers ignore the key users of the market space and focus on providing profit-oriented spaces. This leads to the spillover of trading activities by the key users, who are mostly petty traders. The disorderliness experienced from the spillover of trading activities often gives a negative image of the city. The spillover of trading activities to the market environment usually leads to certain hostility in the environment. This is the current state of the subject of study, “Creek Road Market,” located in Rivers State, Nigeria. The government of Rivers State, to save the image of the city, has tried several times to curb the act of this spill without any result. Some studies have been conducted concerning the issues caused as a result of the spillover; however, the possible architectural issues that may be associated with the spillover have not been considered. Therefore, this research tends to investigate the issues connected with the architecture of the Creek Road Market, leading to the spillover of trading activities into the environment. To investigate this, the architecture of the Creek Road Market was identified, and the issues associated with the architecture were examined. A mixed-method approach was used for this study. Data was gathered through questionnaires, interviews, and personal observations. The findings from both quantitative and qualitative data reveal space inadequacy to accommodate all traders as the major reason for the spillover in the Creek Road Market. Further reasons include inadequate visibility of goods and insufficient space to accommodate traders’ goods.

Keywords: Architecture, Creek Road Market, environment, image of the city, issues, Port Harcourt Metropolis, spill out, traders

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

How to cite this article:
Ebikiemo K.W, T. Lawson, Imaah N.O, Pepple T.D. The Architecture of Creek Road Market and the Image of Port Harcourt Metropolis, Rivers State, Nigeria. International Journal of Urban Design and Development. 2025; 04(01):13-24.
How to cite this URL:
Ebikiemo K.W, T. Lawson, Imaah N.O, Pepple T.D. The Architecture of Creek Road Market and the Image of Port Harcourt Metropolis, Rivers State, Nigeria. International Journal of Urban Design and Development. 2025; 04(01):13-24. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/ijudd/article=2025/view=239925


References

  1. Adegboyega EO. Why markets matter. Rural 21. 2013;47(2):6–7. Available from: https://www.rural21.com/english/a-closer-look-at/detail/article/why-markets-matter.html
  2. Agboola OP. The significance of rural markets as a public space in Nigeria. Habitat Int. 2022;122:102519. doi:10.1016/j.habitatint.2022.102519.
  3. Attah A, Bala B, Othman S. Design influence on squatter trading: case study of Jimeta ultra-modern market, Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria. Int J Environ Stud S Afr Res. 2017;2(1):68–85.
  4. Ukpong C. (2019). Wike vows to rid Port Harcourt of street trading. [Online] Premium Times. Available from: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/south-south-regional/332896-wike-vows-to-rid-port-harcourt-of-street-trading.html
  5. Creswell JW. A Concise Introduction to Mixed Methods Research. 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks (CA): Sage Publications; 2021.
  6. Cullen G. The Concise Townscape. Oxford: Architectural Press; 2012.
  7. Helen T. Public Markets and Civic Culture in Nineteenth Century America. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press; 2003.
  8. Imaah NO. The Foundations of Architectural Composition. Warsaw: Academic Publishing House DIALOG; 2010.
  9. Janssens F, Sezer C. Marketplaces as an urban development strategy. Built Environ. 2013;39(2):169–171. doi:10.2148/benv.39.2.169.
  10. Lucas R. Anthropology for Architects: Social Relations and the Built Environment. London: Bloomsbury Publishing; 2020. doi:10.5040/9781474241533.
  11. Okon IE. Traffic congestion in Port Harcourt Metropolis: issues and strategies for effective urban transportation [thesis]. Calabar: University of Calabar; 2004.
  12. Owei OO, Ede P, Obinna VC, Akarolo C. Land market distortions in Nigerian cities and urban sprawl: the case of Abuja and Port Harcourt. In: Proceedings of the 44th ISOCARP Congress; 2008; Dalian, China. 2008. Available from: https://www.isocarp.net/Data/case_studies/1288.pdf
  13. Ibrahim SU, Adama DS, Edozie V. (2022). Amid accidents, traffic menaces, roadside markets fester across states [Online]. Daily Trust. Available from: https://dailytrust.com/amid-accidents-traffic-menaces-roadside-markets-fester-across-states/
  14. Tracey-White JD. Retail Markets Planning Guide. FAO Agricultural Services Bulletin No. 121. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization; 1995.
  15. Tracey-White JD. Market Infrastructure Planning: A Guide for Decision-Makers. FAO Agricultural Services Bulletin No. 141. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization; 1999.
  16. Tracey-White JD. Wholesale Markets: Planning and Design Manual. FAO Agricultural Services Bulletin No. 90. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization; 1991.
  17. Tracey-White JD. Rural-Urban Marketing Linkages: An Infrastructure Identification and Survey Guide. FAO Agricultural Services Bulletin No. 161. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization; 2005.
Regular Issue Subscription Original Research
Volume 04
Issue 01
Received 16/05/2025
Accepted 14/12/2025
Published 24/12/2025
Publication Time 222 Days
1

Login


My IP

PlumX Metrics