Despite mounting environmental and social pressures in African cities, urban green infrastructure remains under-researched and poorly integrated into planning frameworks, with most theoretical and empirical knowledge derived from Global North contexts. This disparity in evidence persists even as African cities face intensifying challenges related to rapid urbanization, socio-political complexity, and environmental degradation. This study, responds to this existential gap by critically investigating the evolving green spaces dynamics in Abuja, Nigeria—a rapidly expanding capital city. Drawing on qualitative data from interviews with key urban development stakeholders, the research identifies six interconnected mechanisms shaping green space transformation: governance and political influence, urbanization and land use pressures, economic incentives and developer influence, institutional and operational challenges, societal and behavioral drivers, and legal and illegal conversions. These forces interact to weaken green space protection, intensify land commodification, and exacerbate spatial and environmental injustices. Quantitative analyses reveal a steep decline in green space availability—from 42.43 % in 1990–17.9 % in 2023—alongside a fall in per capita availability from 73 m² to 22.68 m², with significant intra-urban disparities. The loss of accessible green areas has constrained recreational opportunities, particularly for high density communities, undermining health and social equity. Comparisons with global urban regions show Abuja's challenges resonate with patterns across Africa and Asia, contrasting with the more regulated approaches seen in Europe. The study advocates for integrated governance reforms, zoning reform, participatory green planning, enforcement mechanisms, and community led-stewardship to reposition green spaces as vital assets for urban sustainability and spatial justice.
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