ISSUES AND CHALLENGES IN THE EXECUTION OF PUBLIC SECTOR HOUSING PROJECTS IN NIGERIA

ISSUES AND CHALLENGES IN THE EXECUTION OF PUBLIC SECTOR HOUSING PROJECTS IN NIGERIA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Housing (Shelter) is unarguably one of the basic necessities of man. It used to be ranked second after food in the hierarchy of man’s needs but according to Ebie (2009) it is the first and most important of all rights. According to him, because of the importance attached to housing and coupled with the fact that housing in all its ramifications is more than mere shelter, then, execution of public sector housing embraces all social services and utilities that go to make a community or neighbourhood a livable environment, this is now a right in Nigeria. This position is reinforced by section 16(1)(d) of 1999 constitution under the Fundamental Objectives of State Policy which compels the Nigerian State “to provide suitable and adequate shelter for all citizens” Even though this provision is not actionable, it reinforces the call for public sector driven mass housing provision in Nigeria. Housing being a right entails that all strata of a society including the less privileged members of the society, the old, the disadvantaged, the wondering psychotics should own or have access to decent, safe and sanitary housing accommodation at affordable disposal prices or rental with secure tenure. Unfortunately, the opposite is true, despite the policies, institutions and regulations that Nigeria’s various governments have put in place since independence. Low-income housing is still in short supply. A recent housing survey in Nigeria found that the existing housing stock was 23 per 1,000 residents. The housing deficit is he estimated at 15 million (Mabogunje, 2007) and he needs 12 trillion Naira to cover the deficit. This is about four times Nigeria’s annual budget (FHA, 2007). Housing is the most important thing for a person, he is one of the best indicators of a person’s standard of living and status in society. However, it is never adequately supplied, either quantitatively or qualitatively (Jiboye 2009; Omoniyi & Jiboye, 2011). As time goes on, the need for adequate housing continues to gain global attention, especially in developing countries where the urbanization process is accelerating at an alarming rate. The tremendous growth in population, number and size of most cities in recent decades has resulted in acute shortages of suitable housing in many urban centers around the world (Jiboye, 2009).

As a result, the housing issue has recently been part of major discussions at several global summits, including the 1992 Rio de Janeiro Environment and Development Summit, the 1996 Istanbul Hehabitat Summit, and the 2000 United Nations Millennium Development Goals Summit (MDGS). It is 2002 World Summits in Johannesburg and La Havana; 2005 UN Sustainable Cities Experience Documentation Program (Oladunjoye, 2005; UN-Habitat, 2007; UNDPI, 2008).

Nigeria, like other developing countries, is suffering from uncontrolled urban population growth due to a lack of infrastructure and deteriorating rural economic conditions. The proportion of Nigerians living in urban areas has risen staggeringly from 7% in the 1930s, 10% in the 1950s, 20% in the 1970s, and 27% in the 1980s to 35% in the 1990s.

(Okpe, 2002). More than 40% of her Nigerians now live in urban areas of various sizes. The presence of this population in urban centers has created severe housing problems, leading to overcrowding of inadequate housing and the categorization of 60% of Nigerians as ‘homeless’ (Federal Government of Nigeria, 2004).

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

In many developing countries, including Nigeria, urban housing crisis is escalating unabated despite a number of new policies, programs and strategies being engaged in by public and private sectors aimed at execution of public sector housing in addressing this problem (Okupe, 2002). Since execution of public sector housing is principally carried out by government agencies and their collaborators, the researcher argues that one vital step to addressing myriads of issues and challenges in execution of public sector housing in Nigeria is to identify areas of weakness in public housing agencies and subsequently address such weakness for enhanced productivity (Jiboye, 2009). It is for this reason that the study investigated the contextual and organizational challenges related to execution of public sector housing in Nigeria in the post independence era.

This study attempted at using key organizational components to assess areas of challenges in execution of public sector housing among government agencies in the study area. This is with a view to assisting public-sector housing policy makers and program managers chart future pathways for improved performance in public housing provision and management in Nigeria.

1.3 Purpose of the survey

The general aim of this study is to analyze the problems and challenges in the implementation of social housing in Nigeria, but the specific objectives are to:

1. Explore the challenges of implementing social housing in Nigeria.

2. Identify the causes of Nigeria’s housing problem.

3. To determine solutions to the problem of public sector housing enforcement in Nigeria.

1.4 Research question

1. What are the problems and challenges in the implementation of public housing in Nigeria?

2. What factors are driving the housing problem in Nigeria? 3. What is the solution to the problem of public sector housing construction in Nigeria?

1.6 Importance of research

The significance of this research is as follows.

1. The findings of this study will make the study highly useful in educating housing development stakeholders and the general public on the issues and challenges in implementing social housing in Nigeria and as a guide for government policy makers. However, this will contribute to better adoption and implementation of housing development policies. 2. The study will also help public housing policy makers and program managers to identify future avenues for improving public housing enforcement and governance performance in Nigeria.

3. This research output also serves as a resource base for other academics and researchers interested in doing further research in this area later on. If applied, it helps to some extent in providing new explanations for the topic.

1.7 Scope/Limitations of Investigation

This study on issues and challenges in the implementation of public sector housing projects in Nigeria aims to set a strategic framework for the large-scale implementation of public sector housing projects in Nigeria. deal with problems. Research limitations

Financial Constraints – Insufficient financial resources tend to prevent researchers from obtaining relevant materials, literature, or information and efficiently conducting data collection (internet, questionnaires, and interviews).

Time Constraints – Researchers will be engaged in this study and other academic studies simultaneously. As a result, less time is spent on research work.

1.8 Definition of terms

housing:
A building or structure that allows individuals and their families to live and that complies with certain federal regulations. Housing conditions vary from person to person and may vary by age, family and geographic location. for example,

References

Agbola, S.B. (1998) Nigerian Housing – A Review of Policy Development and Implementation. Research Reports #14 Ibadan, Nigeria:
Development Policy Center.

Ebie, SPOF (May 2009). Public Housing; Successes and Problems. Paper presented at Annual Lecture 2009, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. Federal Government of Nigeria (2004) Draft National Housing Policy, Abuja.

Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) Constitution Article 10

Zivoe, AD (2009). Challenges of sustainable housing and urban development in Nigeria. Environmental Research Policy Journal 4(3), 23-27

Okupe, L (2002) Private Sector Initiatives in Housing Development in Nigeria – Is It Feasible? Housing Today, 1(6), 21-26

Oradun Joy, A. O (2005). Implementation of Sustainable Cities Program in Nigeria. Havana 2005 – Record of experience with SCP.LA21. Sustainable Cities Program. Localization of Agenda 21 programs.

Olotuoh, A.O. & Ajemifujah, A.O. (2009). Architectural Education and Housing Supply in Nigeria. CEBE Transaction 6(1), 86-102. Retrieved from http:
//www.cebe.heacademy.ac.uk/transactions/pdf/olotuahajemifujah6 (1) p.d.f.

Omoniyi, S & Jiboye, AD (2011). Effective housing policies and sustainable development in Nigeria. Journal of International Development Studies. 6(1), 129-