Although urban green infrastructure (GI) and sense of community provide several benefits to residents, the relationship between them seems not to be unclear, especially in the context of densely ...populated urban settlements in the developing countries. This study investigated the influence of GI on sense of community amongst residents in selected neighborhoods in Lagos Metropolis, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 1,560 residents who participated in a questionnaire survey conducted in the study area. The results of the descriptive statistics and categorical regression analysis reveal that although the residents rated the existing stock of GI to be of poor quality, they perceived GI as having a positive influence on the development and sustenance of sense of community in the neighborhoods. The rate of loss of green areas, access to recreational parks, and proximity of green areas to the residents emerged as the top three aspects of GI with the most significant influence on sense of community in the residents. This implies that to enhance the contribution of GI in promoting sense of community in urban residents, these aspects of GI should be given adequate attention in Nigeria and other developing countries.
Against the backdrop of the need to improve accessibility of services and infrastructural facilities for urban residents in Nigeria, this study examined the accessibility of services and facilities ...for urban residents in newly constructed public housing in Ogun State, Southwest Nigeria. The study was based on household surveys and data were collected from 452 respondents in nine public housing estates constructed between 2003 and 2010 in urban centers in the study area using structured questionnaire and observation schedule. It was observed that although the majority of households in the housing estates have good access to human waste disposal system, accessibility to refuse bins, treated water, electricity, and public transport services as well as educational, shopping, recreational, healthcare, drainage, and other vital facilities is poor. One instructive finding of this study is that more emphasis is given to the production of dwelling units than accessibility to basic services and facilities for residents in public housing schemes in the study area. The paper suggests that to improve the quality of public housing and living standard of residents, policy action is required to compel public housing developers to provide basic services and facilities in housing schemes in Nigerian cities.
This study assessed the performance of residential buildings in public housing estates in urban areas of Ogun State Southwest Nigeria. It was based on the notion that users' satisfaction with ...dwelling units is a measure of the performance of residential buildings in meeting their needs and expectations. A cross sectional survey of 452 household heads in nine public housing estates was conducted in the study area. Data were obtained using structured questionnaire and observation schedule; and were subjected to descriptive statistics and factor analysis. A mean satisfaction score of 3.21 was observed; indicating that the respondents were generally satisfied with the performance of the different components of the buildings. Satisfaction levels were generally higher with privacy and sizes of living and sleeping areas than the availability of water and electricity in the buildings. The type, location and aesthetic appearance as well as size of main activity areas were the most predominant factors that determined satisfaction and indeed the performance of the buildings in meeting users' needs and expectations. The paper highlights critical areas where attention is needed in order to improve the performance of residential buildings and users' satisfaction with public housing projects in Nigeria.
The adoption of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in housing provision in Nigeria is intended to increase urban housing stock and address housing affordability and accessibility challenges. However, ...to date, very little is known about how PPP housing schemes have addressed these challenges. This paper therefore explores the extent to which PPP in housing provision has so far contributed to solving the housing challenges in the Lagos Megacity Region of Nigeria. The paper presents the result of a cross-sectional survey of operators of PPP schemes and housing consumers in the study area. The results show that the PPP approach is basically a formal joint venture partnership involving government providing land at subsidised cost and the provision of serviced plots or construction of housing units by private sector partners. Although the approach has provided affordable serviced plots and housing units for a few high income elites, it has contributed very little to the volume of housing units available to low-income people in Lagos. The paper suggests the adoption of a uniform policy on PPP in housing provision and the establishment of a co-ordinating agency. In addition, government involvement in the provision of infrastructure in PPP housing schemes could increase the affordable housing stock accessible to low-income people in the city.
Purpose
– The aim of this study was to investigate the dimensions of housing adequacy evaluation by residents in public housing with a view to identifying how government and construction ...professionals can deliver adequate housing facilities.
Design/methodology/approach
– The research is based on household surveys involving 517 respondents selected from nine public housing estates constructed between 2003 and 2010 in Ogun State Southwest Nigeria. The data were collected using structured questionnaire administered to the residents by the researchers through visits to the housing estates. A total of 33 variables derived from the review of the literature were used in measuring housing adequacy. Descriptive statistics and factor analyses were used in analysis of the data.
Findings
– The study reveals that residents perceived their housing situation as inadequate. They evaluated housing adequacy based on four key dimensions: ambient condition of interiors spaces, security, utilities and neighbourhood facilities; social infrastructure; level of privacy and size of sleeping; and living and dining areas in the residences. These dimensions of housing adequacy evaluation were found not to be exactly the same way experts conceived housing adequacy in the literature.
Research limitations/implications
– The concept of housing adequacy can be used to examine occupants’ housing preferences and their standard of living, the quality of housing and the performance of mass housing projects.
Practical implications
– The paper makes practical suggestions to government and construction professionals on how to improve adequacy levels of public housing. Specifically, in the areas of giving more attention to ambient condition of interiors, security, utilities and neighbourhood facilities as well as privacy and sizes of main activities areas in dwelling units in the design, construction and management of public housing projects.
Originality/value
– The study identifies dimensions of housing adequacy evaluation by residents in public housing and compares these with experts’ conception of housing adequacy.
This study assessed the performance of residential buildings in public housing estates in urban areas of Ogun State Southwest Nigeria. It was based on the notion that users＇ satisfaction with ...dwelling units is a measure of the performance of residential buildings in meeting their needs and expectations. A cross sectional survey of 452 household heads in nine public housing estates was conducted in the study area. Data were obtained using structured questionnaire and observation schedule; and were subjected to descriptive statistics and factor analysis. A mean satisfaction score of 3.21 was observed; indicating that the respondents were generally satisfied with the performance of the different components of the buildings. Satisfaction levels were generally higher with privacy and sizes of living and sleeping areas than the availability of water and electricity in the buildings. The type, location and aesthetic appearance as well as size of main activity areas were the most predominant factors that determined satisfaction and indeed the performance of the buildings in meeting users＇ needs and expectations. The paper highlights critical areas where attention is needed in order to improve the performance of residential buildings and users＇ satisfaction with public housing projects in Nigeria.
This study investigated the contextual and organizational challenges in public housing provision in Nigeria in the post independence era. It was motivated by dearth of empirical studies on ...organizational challenges in public housing in this country. Using data derived from a survey of fifteen public housing agencies in southern Nigeria, the study found that scarcity of housing finance, lack of consistency and continuity in housing policy formulation and poor implementation strategies, unfavorable political environment and declining population of tradesmen in the construction industry were key contextual challenges militating against public housing provision. In addition, low level of inter-agencies collaborations, poor staff motivation and rewarding system as well as inadequate operational equipment and vehicles were responsible for the inability of public housing agencies to deliver on their housing mandate in the study area. The paper suggests that stable polity, consistency in housing policies and programs and capacity building in public housing agencies through public-private partnerships are needed to improve on the quantity and quality of public housing in Nigeria.
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