The Contribution Of Urban Green Infrastructure To Mental Health And Social Well-Being In Southern Cities Of Nigeria: From Concrete To Cognition

Abstract

Rapid urbanization in Southern Nigeria has resulted in the widespread development of infrastructure, population increase and land use, which have changed the urban landscape. The positive economic changes have been accompanied by the loss of urban green infrastructure including parks and urban forest, wetlands, community gardens and public open spaces. Although the contribution of greenery in contributing to mental health and social well-being has become clear, information on the impact of urban green infrastructure in the context of Southern Nigerian cities is still limited. This paper discusses a systematic review of literature on the link between urban green infrastructure, mental health and social well-being in   cities in the South of Nigeria. Peer-reviewed journal articles, government publications, conference proceedings and institutional publications have been reviewed between 2010 and 2025 using thematic analysis. The study has confirmed the impact of urban green spaces in the reduction of stress, emotional recovery, cognitive functions, social cohesion and quality of life. Green infrastructure also helps to lower levels of environmental stressors like noise pollution, overcrowding, air pollution and urban heat – which are becoming increasingly ubiquitous in fast-growing cities. However, the research shows that these issues persist, such as inadequate urban planning, unchecked growth of cities, inadequate environmental governance: and unequal access to recreational space. The review also highlights the lack of research to empirically determine the mental health benefits of buildings' GREEN. The review also noted that there is a huge lack of empirical studies on the mental health benefit and how this is impacted by green infrastructure in Southern Nigeria. The paper suggests that implementing green infrastructure in urban development processes, strengthening environmental policies and ensuring access to green spaces that is equitable are key actions for sustainable and healthy cities. The study contributes to the key debate on sustainable cities by making the general case that green infrastructure is an important aspect of the future cities of Nigeria for public health and social well-being. The findings from this research will be applicable in urban green infrastructure, mental health, social wellbeing, sustainable cities, southern Nigeria, urban planning and environmental health.