ABSTRACT
Overtime it has been researched that most cities, urban centres, towns in the developing countries have become unmanageable owing to population growth and urbanization. The absence of a feasible and efficient street naming and property numbering system in this times of over urbanization and increase in population growth has led to series of problems among them are the inadequate provision of services to both the houses and the people e.g. water supply, electricity among others. This study, although limited to only residential properties explores the benefits of street names and property numbers in managing the city and with the methodology to map out and organize data for an ideal urban environment. Thus, the research used the framework of Geographic Information System (GIS) to capture the spatial locations of the various houses located in the study area, to create the needed geo-database showing the street index, as well as to carry out spatial analysis of query which enables selection of a subset of records based on specified value. The study also had a view to ascertaining if the existing street names and residential property numbering (street addressing system) conforms to some of the acceptable efficient management standards and principles of Nigeria National Standards and Guidelines, and if not, what could be the possible reasons for these existing problems. All this was done with the overall objective of proving that the street addressing and property numbering system is a monitoring tool in managing Egor Local Government Area, Edo State. The research employed the instruments of observation, data recording, and a survey interview in order to elicit primary data. Google Earth Image was also used to delineate the configuration of the streets and houses, using the GPS coordinate to both identify and define the spatial locations of features (houses and streets).
The findings revealed that quite a number of persons employed the use of street names and house numbers whenever they give directions to people. It was also observed that majority of people are apt to use street names and house numbers due to their educational background. Furthermore, it was observed that the young adults have the propensity to use street names and house numbers based on their age while the older ones have a lesser tendency for the use of street names and house numbers when giving directions. Table 4.1 shows 28 persons between 21-35 years of age and 36 persons between the age brackets 36-50 have the propensity to use house number and street names when giving directions. Among the peculiar problems, it was observed that some of the houses do not have an official number assigned to them by them Local Government Authorities. In some cases, the house numbers were completely mixed up which obviously did not follow the rudimentary principles and standards of having the properties labeled as even number on the right side of the street and odd number on the left side of the street..
In conclusion, it becomes imperative for the relevant agencies such as the Local Government Authorities, National Addressing System (NAS) Committee to provide a comprehensive and standardized street naming and property numbering system for ease of mobility and locational identification.
