THE EFFECT OF URBAN GROWTH AND HOUSING PROBLEM IN NIGERIA

1.1 Introduction

Urban growth refers to the expansion of a metropolitan or suburban area into the surrounding environment. In Nigeria, some urban settlements are inhabited by people whose occupation, are primarily agriculture. These settlements sometimes lack basic infrastructures such as electricity, pipe borne water, and good roads. Urbanization is the increasing number of people in urban areas resulting to the development of towns and cities. This is usually as a result of the movement of people from rural to urban areas leading to population growth in towns and cities. Urbanization is not only characterized by demographic change but involves social change, technological advancement and economic transformation.

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitation of the study and Definition of terms.

1.2 Background of Study

Over the last four decades, the world has experienced a phenomenal growth in the rate of urbanization both in developed and developing countries. Before the United Nation’s definition of Mega City as quoted by Mabogunje (2007) there have been series of definitions of urbanization. The 2009 definition by Wikipedia of Urbanization is the physical growth of rural or natural land into urban areas as a result of immigration to an existing urban area. While the United Nations defined it as movement of people from rural to urban areas with population growth equating to urban migration (The Associated Press, 2008).

In the African context, Nigeria is remarkable for its high percentage of urbanization. For the periods that figures are available, the annual rates of urbanization in Nigeria were 4.9%, 5.13%, and 6% in 1965-1970, 1970-1975 and 1975-1980 respectively. These periods coincided, incidentally, with the period of the oil boom and expansion in public expenditure as well as the period when the idea of relocating the Federal Capital from Lagos to Abuja was conceived and subsequently implemented. Today, Abuja is contesting with Lagos as the fastest growing city in Nigeria. One of the consequences of the unprecedented increase of urban population is an exceptionally high demand for housing which puts a great pressure on land.

The demand for housing increases in response to several factors, notably urbanization and population growth. According to Omiunu (2014), a high population growth will have significant effect on resource allocation such as housing and this could pose a big problem to the Nigeria housing and national development. Thus, urbanization and population growth if not adequately handled can put excessive strain on available housing which could negatively affect the attainment of sustainable development in Nigeria (Igwe et al., 2017).

Nigeria’s housing situation is gradually becoming critically bad and could make Nigeria fail in the sustainable development plans and goals. Hence, there is need to cushion housing challenges in Nigeria towards the attainment of sustainable development. The link of housing provision to sustainable development is hinged on its multidimensional impact on the promotion of quality of life, health, education, safety and security of individuals, households, communities (Ibem, and Aduwo, 2013).

According to Aliyu and Amadu (2017), urbanization implies a process whereby societies transform from a rural to urban way of life or redistribution of populations to urban settlements associated with development and civilization due to high rate of commercialization, scientific development, political and cultural life. Coupled with the increase in the nation’s population, a major problem of urbanization is housing challenge because people are attracted to cities and towns which lead to high population increase (Conserve Energy Future, 2019).

Furthermore, the high cost of land in urban centres plus the imposition of regulatory standards make it difficult for the poor who are in the majority to afford even the conventional types of dwelling units. The efforts of the poor to provide shelter for themselves results in the phenomenon of squalid squatter settlements which have become a distinctive feature of the margins of cities in developing countries.

Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Effect of Urban Growth and Housing Problem.

1.3 Statement of Problems

Investigation revealed that the urbanization is increasing rapidly in most African countries, and the major factors for the rapid increase relate to large scale migration from rural areas to the urban areas for better economic opportunities. Other factors are natural increase of the population, and uneven concentration of investments by governments and private organizations in the cities compared to rural areas.

Housing is a residential structure where man lives and grows. It is therefore universally acknowledged as one of the most basic human needs for survival on the surface of the Earth. The demand for housing has been an issue of global concern as the housing provision still remains one of the most difficult problems facing humanity.

1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to investigate the Effect of Urban Growth and Housing Problem in Nigeria. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To ascertain the relationship between urban growth and housing problem in Nigeria;
2. To determine the causes of housing problem in Nigeria;
3. To identify the factors that inhibits urban growth in Nigeria;
4. To ascertain the solution to housing problem in urban area; and
5. To identity the trend in residential housing demand and supply situations in the study area.

1.5 Research Questions

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

• Are there factors that inhibit urban growth in Nigeria?
• What is the relationship between urban growth and housing problem in Nigeria?
• What are the causes of housing problem in Nigeria?
• What is the solution to housing problem in urban area?
• What is the trend in residential housing demand and supply situations in the study area?

1.6 Research Hypothesis

In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.

Hypothesis One

• H0: There are no causes of housing problem in Nigeria
• H1: There are causes of housing problem in Nigeria

Hypothesis Two

• H0: There is no significant relationship between urban growth and housing problem
• H1: There is a significant relationship between urban growth and housing problem.

1.7 Significance of Study

The findings of the study would be of importance to urban policy makers both in the public and private sectors. Administrators in charge of development control and regulation of land in the rural urban fringe would find the information generated in this study useful in the process of planning, development and management of land and other new towns located within a prosperous agricultural territory in general.

The result of the findings will be of immense benefit to the people living in the urban area. The study will also be of great benefit to the researchers who intends to embark on research on similar topics as it will serve as a guide. Finally, the study will be of great importance to academia’s, lecturers, teachers, students and the general public.

1.8 Scope of Study

The scope of the research is focused on the Effect of Urban Growth and Housing Problem in Nigeria. The study will cover only the houses in Ajah district under Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State.

1.9 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Establishment Policies: Establishment policies posed a serious limitation as most staffs are not ready to release information needed for this research work. There were lots of information needed from the staffs of this establishment to enhance the study which took them time to release or they did not release at all for security purposes, hence the scope was reduced.
3. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
4. Lack of Initial Cooperation from Respondents: A particular limitation of this work came as a result of the respondent refusal to offer their cooperation at the initial time they were contacted. This contributed in making the success of this research study difficult.

1.10 Definition of Terms

House:

This is a building made for people to live in usually for one family or a family and lodgers. More technically, a house-is a building or structural edifice comprising of walls with foundation, floors, roofs e.t.c.

Housing Finance:

Finance literally means finance for-housing or real estate development. It also means or includes the source of the finance, the management of the finance and all various operations on the source, management, procurement and utilization as well as repayment of such finance.

Housing:

This is-a-complex system of interactions between institutions and residents which give shape to human settlements.

Housing Quality:

This is the state, nature or standard of housing with respect to acceptable standards.

Housing Policy:

This-is a written document which usually comprises specific objectives, strategies and programs aimed at solving the housing problems or meeting with the ever-increasing housing needs and demands of a country.