INFORMAL TRADING ACTIVITIES: A STUDY OF THE IMPACT ON THE PHYSICAL CHARACTER OF BUILDINGS AND STREET SCAPE OF AHMADU BELLO WAY, JOS. PLATEAU STATE. NIGERIA

Informal Trading Activities has become a normal economic activity in our cities and this comeswith various impacts on the surrounding buildings, streetscape, landscape, and circulation.The Paper investigates the negative impact these informal activities brings on the buildings andthe streetscape of Ahmadu Bello Way, Jos.The paper used questionnaires as the instrument to collect data reflecting the opinions ofrespondents. The respondents were randomly picked from business owners and the generalpublic utilizing that street.The Chi – Square Statistical Analysis was used because it is a test thatmeasures how a model compares to actual observed data. Results showed that informal tradingactivities on Ahmadu Bello Way, Jos which happens to be one of the busiest streets, had anegative impact on the streetscape and other physical infrastructure. The study gathered theimportance for an organized architecture for street activities which should factor in theseinformal trading activities. Recommendations were further made to Government Agencies andmarket associations on modifications to be implemented, so that our streets with their bustlingbusiness activities remain sane and beautiful.