ABSTRACT
Housing is one of the most important needs of individuals next to food and clothing. Housing needs for low income earners has reached an alarming stage in Nigeria. On the supply side, numerous government policies have earlier aimed at disabling the massive shortage through numerous housing reform programmes. Despite these preceding efforts, housing remains an illusion to an average Nigerian. This research assessed the effect of government policy on housing delivery in Nigeria. The objectives were to determine housing needs of the low income group in Nigeria and to determine the impact of government policies on affordable housing provision to the low income group. Survey method was used to collect data from 44 respondents through the administration of questionnaires which was analyzed with statistical tools. The findings from the study shows that insufficient fund is closely related to other finance related factors identified as barriers to the accessibility of public housing by the low income group who are non-public servants. Such factors as high interest rate, low per capita income, lack of security of income, lack of collateral and high cost of public houses. The study suggest the creation of a viable secondary mortgage market, improvement of land registration and allocation, compassionate urban renewal programmes, cost saving house designs amongst others.
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 Introduction
Housing is one of man’s basic necessities for physical, economical and mental development. It has been universally acclaimed as the second most essential human need after food. As a basic need of mankind, housing exhibits the attribute of being the most durable item that impacts positively on man’s productivity. When a worker lacks adequate accommodation, his productivity, health and general well-being could be affected. Olayinwola, Adeleye and Ogunshakin (2005) observed that it also stipulates social stability, the work efficiency and development of an individual. The provision of housing accommodation encompasses social, environmental necessity, political and economic approaches necessary to support peace and stable development in the world. Housing goes beyond a mere shelter to embrace social services and utilities, which merge together to make a community or neighborhood a livable place. The United Nation Organization (UNO) defines housing as “residential physical structures that mankind uses as a shelter, including all the necessary services, facilities, equipment and devices needed or desired for physical and mental well-being of a man”. All these tend to elucidate that housing could be a good measure in equating a person’s living standard, as well as his physical and mental stability. Therefore any housing unit that has the ability to satisfy the above concept is regarded as adequate. Unfortunately, this essential commodity is not readily available for the majority of people to access or afford due to many contending issues that are tied up to its provision. Globally, the problem of housing affordability is usually complex and diverse as it is directly related to household income, since it is the ability to acquire housing from household income without sacrificing any of the other essential needs of the household. In order to meet the enormous housing challenges particularly in developing countries including Nigeria,
