Harnessing Architecture and Urban Planning to Fulfill United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria

The goal of sustainable development has become a global priority, especially in light of rising urbanization and environmental degradation. In Nigeria, where cities face expanding challenges such as housing shortages, infrastructure deficiencies, informal settlement development, and climatic vulnerability, architecture and urban planning are increasingly acknowledged as important solutions for resolving these concerns. This study explores how these disciplines might be harnessed to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a particular emphasis on SDG 11: Making cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Through a critical literature review and contextual analysis, the article identifies gaps, challenges, and opportunities for aligning Nigeria's built environment practices with sustainability imperatives. Key issues noted include obsolete planning instruments, poor institutional coordination, inadequate technical capacity, and the exclusion of informal communities from urban development processes. Despite these systemic difficulties, the study identifies emerging innovations, such as climate-responsive architecture, digital planning tools, and community-driven urban design, as viable paths to revolutionary change. The study argues for a paradigm shift in Nigeria's architectural and planning methods, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, policy reform, participatory governance, and investment in resilient infrastructure. It concludes that by incorporating sustainability principles into planning policies, professional education, and built environment regulations, Nigeria can significantly advance its progress toward the SDGs while creating more equitable and livable urban spaces.