EVALUATION OF URBAN HOUSING PROBLEMS IN NIGERIA

SYNOPSIS

Housing problems on earth can be traced to the time when God evicted Adam and Eve from the garden of Eden, because of their sin. This project is aimed at evaluating housing problems in Ibadan, Oyo state. Many theories were reviewed in other  to get more facts on this research work. Data were collected by administering questionnaires to selected population located in Sango East of Ibadan. The researcher identified the different types of housing and housing problem in the study area, factors that constitute housing problem in the study area and the strategies that can be employed to check or minimize the problems.

Morealso, for the critical analysis and presentation, table were used for clear explanation of the subject matter.To give the work a final touch, finding on the negligence of the concerned local government, the necessary stakeholder and appropriate  provision of facilities, lacking in the area were exposed, due to this various procedure  of urban policies were itemized and explained, also Government have been advised on poverty alleviation programmes and also to educate the people living in the study area the effect and dangers in living in a bad housing to give the case study a new look of a development.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0     INTRODUCTION

1.1.    BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Housing is the permanently shelter for human habitation. Because shelter is necessary to everyone, the problem of providing adequate housing has long been a concern, no only of individuals, but to government as well. Thus, the history of  housing is inseperable from the social, economic and political development of mankind

All over the world, it is a widely acknowledge fact that shelter is one of the most basic human needs suffice it to say that inspite of its importance, it is one of the problem that has been given the least attention in both urban and rural areas of the country.

The genesis of housing problems in Nigeria dated back to colonial government failed to evolve and articulate housing programme beyond the Government Reserved Areas (GRA).

The colonial era has been a period of self centeredness on the part of the colonial masters as far as social housing in Nigeria was concerned. Studies have shown that the colonial masters built empires for themselves in the so- called Europeans quarters and Government Reserved Areas (GRA). This was necessitated partly by the colonial masters quest for quiet residential areas  and partly for their desire for class and executive life. The colonial masters never considered it necessary to provide decent housing for their black counterparts, but were forced to do so when there was a threat to their lives following to outbreak of an epidermis. A case in mind was that of Lagos Executives Development Board, which was established in 1928 as a result of the destructive effect of the bubonic plaque,and was aimed at the clearing the slums in Lagos, being the area suspected to be epidemic by promoters. An attempt was further made by colonial master to provide housing for the civil servants under  a plan tagged “African Staff Housing Scheme” that was tagged to be facilitated by Nigeria building society.

In post-colonial Era, sequel to Nigerian Independence in 1960, emphasis was placed on five-yearly development plan as a vehincle for economic growth, The first and second national Development plan covering the period 1960-1970 did not give housing any significant place until 1972 when during the extended second National Development  Plan, housing scheme under which government was to build 54000 housing unit by the end of 1979. Under third National Development Plan, whixh covered the period of 1975 -1980 government took a giant stride to address the National housing deficit of the country by engaging in social housing provision.

During the period a rent panel was set up to review the level in the country.  This  marked the first attempt by government to recognize the housing problem of the less privileged people of Nigeria who has lost all sense of dignity as well as economic worth as citizen of an oil rich country. The forth  National Development plan, which covered the period 1980-1985 contained the most significant policy that addressed that nations housing problem and an overriding objectives of improving the overall quantity and quality of housing for all income, groups both in rural and urban especially.

1.2     STATEMENT OF PROBLEM.

The pooled effect of high population upsurge and urbanization in a declining economy has thrown Nigeria into serious housing problems, Ironically, the low-income groups who constitute the majority in  the society are the most affected by the finance menance.

The problems of housing shortage grow worse by the day in many developing nations including Nigeria. Conceivably, a major trait of housing crisis notable in urban centres in most developing nations is that of inadequate supply relative to demand (Olotuah, 2000).

The shortage, in both quantitative and qualitative terms, is more acute in urban centres. Omijinmi (2000) observed that people that sleep in  indecent in urban Nigeria are more than people who sleep in decent houses; Thus, it is ascertive that there is inadequacy in population in Nigeria. (Arayela 2003)

The causes of this dearth in housing are numerous, High construction cost is found to be present in all countries, albeit in varrying degree of significance ( Adedeji  2007).

      Afolayan  (1987) attributes the high cost of construction rate  in  economy, high space and  quality  standard adopted by designer and construction