Speaker
Description
The evolution of housing development policies in Lagos has responded to the growing population and urbanization challenges since Nigeria's independence in 1960. The rapid influx of migrants seeking better opportunities has exacerbated the housing deficit, necessitating policy interventions aimed at affordable housing solutions. Considering the 22 million housing deficits in Nigeria (World Bank, 2023), with around 2.5 million in Lagos (Oluwatayo & Amole, 2021) housing has become increasingly expensive and out of reach for low and medium-income earners. As a nation, it has experienced five phases of the National Housing Development Plan (1962-2020), and the critical question of reducing the housing gap and providing affordable housing to the urban middle-income and low-income demographics remains unanswered.
A review of state-initiated housing in Nigeria shows that government-led public housing began in colonial times following the 1920s bubonic epidemic in Lagos. Housing projects initially targeted expatriates, leading to the creation of Government Reserved Areas and the adoption of direct housing construction as a strategy for low-cost housing schemes (Aminu, 2019; Ayoade & Onifade, 2020; Chinwe, 2015). Direct housing construction and site-services strategies have remained Nigeria's predominant low-cost housing provision methods, alongside strategies such as slum clearance and resettlement, and core housing/incremental housing. (Olotuah & Taiwo 2015; Ibimilua & Ibitoye, 2015; NBRRI 2013).
This research traces the gaps in the effectiveness of Nigerian housing development policies from 1960 to 2020, using Lagos as a case study. It uses relevant housing development benchmarks to assess rent and mortgage cost accessibility for urban low-income earners and the realization of stated housing stocks with the 60-year study timeline.
References
Chapter in a book
Chinwe Nwanna 2015, Sixteen Gentrification in Nigeria: the case of two housing estates in Lagos. In L. Lees, H. B Shin, E. López-Morales (ed. s), Global Gentrification: Uneven development and displacement (pp. 311-328), Bristol University Press.
Journal article
Aminu, B. (2019). Review of the Housing Policies and Programmes in Nigeria, International Journal of Contemporary Research and Review, Volume 10, Issue 02
Ayoade, A. & Onifade, V. (2020). Housing Affordability in Iwo, Nigeria. African Journal of Housing and Sustainable Development, 1(1), pp. 96-108.
Ibimilua A.F, Ibitoye O.A (2015). Housing Policy in Nigeria: An Overview. American Journal of Contemporary Research, Vol.5, No.2 April 2015
Oluwatayo, A. & Amole, D. (2021). Housing Deficit and Informal Settlements in Lagos: A Critical Analysis. International Journal of Urban Planning, 10(3), 78-95.
Olotuah, A O, Taiwo, A. A (2015) Housing Strategies and Quality of Housing in Nigeria: What lessons from Wales? Developing Country Studies Vol.5, No.16, 2015
Other documents:
Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute, NBRRI (2013), Nigerian Housing Policy: Challenges and Prospects
https://nbrri.gov.ng/new/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Construction-Building-Digest-2.pdf
Word Bank Data (2024). Urban Population – Nigeria)
https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.URB.TOTL?locations=NG
World Bank. (2023). Nigeria’s housing crisis: Understanding the gaps and opportunities. Retrieved from www.worldbank.org
| Keywords | housing; policies; development, deficits, challenges, implementation |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
