THE PARADOX OF SMALL LAND, BIG AMBITION

This paper examines Anambra State’s urban planning response to extreme land scarcity and rapid population growth. Using a policy analysis approach and qualitative data from government planning documents, field observations, and secondary demographic sources, the study applies the theoretical framework of “path-dependent land use” and “alternative city space” to explain how Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo’s administration is designing for density. Key findings show that with only 4,844 sq km and projected population of 29 million by 2065, conventional horizontal expansion is not viable due to erosion and cultural constraints around ala or ancestral land. The paper identifies two core strategies: Awka 2.0, a vertical, mixed-use capital retrofit, and Aeropolis, an airport-city and Free Trade Zone designed to decouple economic growth from land size. Recommendations include early spatial zoning, equity-based land pooling, and culturally negotiated vertical development. The study concludes that smarter space, not more land, is Africa’s urban future.