Osogbo profile: An insight into urban developments à longue durée

Osogbo is the only city in southern Nigeria to have a UNESCO World Heritage Site: Osogbo Sacred Grove. The local-global relevance of the city differs from that of contemporary Nigerian cities. Osogbo became a node of commerce between northern and southern Nigeria through its railway station constructed by the British in 1907. Post-colonial large-scale infrastructure projects are located in the city, such as the country-level electricity control station, which maintains energy stability, business activities, and migration flows. The development of the city took a new direction in 1991 when it became the capital of Osun State. The city's new administrative role, coupled with its hosting of the globally renowned Osun–Osogbo annual festival at the Grove, placed this polyethnic city above other cities in Nigeria as a traditional-cum-modern city. Without a master plan, Osogbo presently faces challenges associated with unsustainable development due to its significant population growth, which is placing strain on its natural resources and infrastructural facilities. A significant amount of water has passed through the river Osun since the Nigerian geographer, Tunde Agbola, first sketched the profile of the city (Cities, 9(4), 1992). This study takes a retrospective view of urban development in Osogbo within the theoretical framework of sustainability by re-evaluating its past and present urban developments and the urban planning policies guiding such developments. The study incorporates new primary sources and data from fieldwork conducted in summer 2024. We conclude with operational policies that can ensure that the urban development of this historic city is sustainable.