A Study of Urban Poor and Accessibility to Public Housing in Nigeria
CHAPTER ONE
AIM AND OBJECTIVES
The aim of the study is to examine the urban poor’s accessibility to public housing in Nigeria.
In order to achieve the above aim, the following were the objectives;
- To examine the use of local building materials as an affordable strategy of housing the urban poor in the study area
- To examine housing problems and needs of low-income earners, activities of private developers in housing provision in the study area
- To review the intervention of the public sector in housing in the study area
- To critically examine the impact on the general populace, especially the urban poor
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW AND CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
CONCEPT OF HOUSING
Shelter is a structure, permanent or makeshift, designed basically to protect the occupant against unwanted elements and intruders. Housing is much more than mere shelter; it embraces the quality, comfort, social, and community amenities – all the social services and utilities that go to make a community or neighbourhood a liveable environment (National Housing Policy, 1991). Housing is bound up with concepts such as shelter itself, privacy, location, environmental amenity and investment (Aribigbola, 2000). Housing which satisfies these concepts can be considered adequate. The Draft National Housing policy (2004) defined housing as “the process of providing a large number of residential buildings on permanent bases with adequate physical infrastructure and social services in planned, decent, safe and sanitary neighbourhoods to meet the basic and special needs of the population”. The concept of housing can, therefore, be seen as a process and a product. The product is the physical structure (shelter) while the process involves all the activities that lead to the production and operation of the structure.
Over the years, government, individuals, agencies both local and international have made efforts to improve housing provision in Nigeria. However the problem of housing affordability still remains a critical issue. Housing affordability connotes the capacity of households to meet housing costs while maintaining the ability to meet other basic costs of living. According to Malpezzi et al., (1985), housing affordability describes the extent to which households are able to pay for housing.
The Chartered Institute of Housing (1992) identified variables or items which will determine whether accommodation is affordable or not. These variables are rent levels, household income and eligibility of households for housing benefits (where practised). In the United States and Canada, a commonly accepted guideline for housing affordability is a housing cost that does not exceed 30% of a household’s gross income. Housing costs considered in this guideline generally include rates and insurance for owners, and usually include utility costs. When the monthly carrying costs of a home exceed 30-35% of household income, then the housing is considered unaffordable for that household.
Housing affordability is influenced by several factors such as income, level of employment and government policy. Income level in a nation is associated with the health of the nation’s economy. A healthy economy is one that is growing and in which the level of employment is high and more people can afford to build, buy or rent decent homes. Government policies influence housing affordability in several ways. Land use laws, price control mechanisms, fiscal policies such as interest rates and foreign exchange rates, financial credit or loan policies can greatly influence access to land, and the finances necessary to build, buy or rent decent housing.
Housing is important to man in the provisions of shelter or accommodation, investment which yields a flow of income, source of social prestige or status. Housing provides employment, collateral security for loans or mortgage loans and durable goods which can be inherited. Housing contributes to physical development and stimulate economic growth of a nation.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In the course of carrying out the research, the researcher was able to do justice to the aim and objectives of the study, data collection sources, the problems of the study as well as the conceptual and theoretical framework have been examined.
For the purpose of achieving the aim and objectives of the study, this chapter shall attempt to examine the study population, sample frame, sample size, source of data, data collection instrument, questionnaire design and as well as methods of analysing and presenting the data collected, not leaving out the description of the study area.
SOURCES OF DATA
The sources of data to be used would be information sourced through; Primary and Secondary sources. The primary data will be source through questionnaire administering on residents of Ijora-Badia, Lagos State which is the study area..
CHARACTERISTICS OF POPULATION STUDY
The study to be carried out is to examine the urban poor’s accessibility to public housing in Nigeria with reference to Ijora-Badia, Lagos State. Therefore, selected residents shall be the population for the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA ANALYSIS, PRESENTATION AND INTERPRETATION
ANALYSIS OF RESPONSES OF RESIDENTS OF IJORA-BADIA
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
Researcher arrived at the following findings which include:
- Majority of residents living in Ijora-Badia comprise of artisans/traders, civil servants as well as those who venture into small scale farming. Findings also revealed that their monthly income ranges between N10,000 – N30,000. Meanwhile, majority occupies room and parlour, single room and bungalow.
- Thus, over-crowding of the living space, poor sanitation, decaying infrastructure, growing rate of unemployment and under-employment, inadequate and overstretched community and social services are some of the indicators of the problems as they affect urban development.
- The implication of all these is that the urban poor are displaced and deprived access from decent and affordable housing, thereby rendering most of them “homeless”.
RECOMMENDATION
- The Nigerian governments need to put in more concern towards the state of housing especially the low income earners in the country.
- Government need to also set-up mortgage finance organizations such as the Federal Mortgage Bank and has licensed Primary Mortgage Institutions to mobilize savings and supply funds for housing development. It has formulated the National Housing Policy and has established the National Housing Fund Scheme for workers to contribute savings towards housing development. Government, had at various times, made provision for staff housing loans for government employees. It had also delved into sites-and-service schemes.
CONCLUSION
- Public sector intervention in housing has not significantly improved the housing situation of the urban poor in Nigeria. This can be reversed through concerted efforts at ensuring sustainability of the programmes on ground, and new initiatives yet unexplored.
- The lack of consistency and continuity of policies is often the bane of the execution of government programmes. Sustainability in housing provision can only be achieved if government policies are based on the real needs of the people and not informed by selfish political reasons.
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