826 
Figure 2. General patterns of land use in Lagos Island 
patterns of land use in Benin City. Conspicuously 
evident are the radial-concentric form of development, 
the zonal/outlying nucleation of commercial areas, 
and the polynucleation of industrial estates. 
Table 2. Lagos Island land use statistics 
Classification 
Area (ha) 
Area as per 
centage of 
Urban and non- 
rban use 
Residential (low density) 
9.2 
0.9 
Residential (high " ) 
123.1 
12.2 
Commercial 
83.2 
8.2 
Institutional 
67.6 
6.7 
Communicational and 
tilities 
24.1 
2.4 
Recreational and Open 
Spaces 
59.8 
5.9 
Vacant Land 
26.7 
2.6 
Water 
615.0 
61.0 
TOTAL 
1008.7 
100.00 
Total residential area 
132.3 
13.1 
Urban: built up area 
excluding vacant and non- 
urban lands 
367.0 
36.4 
Urban: built up area inc 
luding vacant lands 
393.7 
39.0 
Benin City, as the map shows, consists of a central 
open space core from which radial and concentric 
thoroughfares connect the other parts. The core is 
surrounded by concentric nucléations of traditional 
and modern businesses, and extensive high density 
residential neighbourhoods and, sectoral medium, and 
low density residential neighbourhoods. It also 
includes outlying nucleation of commercial centres, 
principally at the intersections of the radial and 
concentric arterials, and peripheral ribon nucleation 
of industries. 
The high density residential areas comprise two 
major residential classes in both inhabitants and 
dwelling structures. The first is residential class 
14, which is made up of the indigenous population. 
The area is characterized by dense (20 to 24 houses 
per ha) regularly arranged but monotonously rectangu 
lar housing units. The housing conditions, housing 
density, street and flooding conditions indicate the 
indigenous core is a blighted neighbourhood (Ikhuoria, 
1986). 
The other group of inhabitants includes migrants 
living in houses of approximately 460 m 2 and a densi 
ty of 20 to 22 houses per ha. These are generally 
either rooming or flat type residential structures 
(class 15) partitioned into separate self-contained 
dwelling units. The polynucleation of residential 
areas based on social status, is manifested in the 
medium density (12 to 20 houses per ha) residential 
areas. Also the impact of colonialism on Benin resi 
dential patterns, is manifested in the low density 
residential class 10. This area known as the "Govern 
ment Reservation Area" (GRA) was developed into high 
grade, low density (4 to 10 houses per ha) residenti 
al quarters. The GRA low density residential area 
consists of large plot residential buildings which 
occupy an average area of 2 000 m 2 . The structures 
Figure 
reflect 
tectual 
Table 
estimate 
vacant 
Of the 
resident 
27.1 per 
density 
ly. Comm 
3.4 perc 
recreati 
respecti 
cent. Tb 
and powe 
tures on 
The tc 
percent 
and 33.