American Research Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

The paper espouses the historical origin of the Oluwole phenomenon in Lagos Nigeria. The study is a combination of desktop and surveying research. The desktop approach reviews existing literature on the historical evolution of Oluwole phenomenon in Lagos, Nigeria. The survey approach involves researchers as participants’ observer, soliciting for some landed documents and exchange of foreign currencies. Results obtained were literary expressed and inferences made on them. Data solicited include the mode of operation of Oluwole phenomenon actors, the operators, and their demographic, ethnographic and socio-economic characteristics. The study reveals that Oluwole phenomenon as spatial and contextual challenges resulted from dysfunctional governance exhibited in the nation’s political instability, ineffective physical planning and social segregation within the built environment. The paper recommends for inter-governmental agency relationship and co-operation, promotion of participatory governance, planning of socially inclusive cities among others, as a way of preventing social environmental menace like the Oluwole phenomenon.