IMPLICATIONS OF INFORMAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN ABEOKUTA, NIGERIA

Abstract

The emergence of informal housing have been largely viewed as problem and described as spontaneous, unplanned and uncoordinated development without necessarily complying with the planning and building regulations. Events have shown that government eviction and ineffective execution of intervention strategies to mitigate the implications of informal housing have further fueled its growth and proliferation in Abeokuta as in other cities. Little or no work has been specifically done or consensus reached on intervention strategy to adopt. The research aimed at assessing the implications of sprawling development of informal housing in Abeokuta, Nigeria with the view to evolving intervention strategies for low-cost housing delivery. A survey research method was used in the selection of respondents. Data was collected through structured questionnaire and direct field observation on 384 systematic randomly selected household heads or adult-occupants within the study area of Abeokuta. Data obtained were processed to make inferences with descriptive statistical analysis, multiple regression, ANOVA, correlation matrix, independent sample t-test and factor analysis with extraction method of principal components analysis in relation to the study objectives through SPSS software package version 21.0. Findings revealed a physical development situation that has propensity to degenerate into a deplorable living condition, but not precarious. The socioeconomic characteristics are found to be jointly responsible for the emergence of informal housing and are vital factors in the formulation, implementation and performance evaluation of housing policy, strategies and programmes. These factors are supportive of statutory revenue enhancement, economic and physical development that possesses inherent solution for low-cost housing delivery in growing cities like Abeokuta, Nigeria. The study concludes that, with inclusive governmental and professional intervention through regeneration, informal housing can be a viable and sustainable platform for increasing the housing stock, especially for the urban-poor through collaborative approach in an integrative manner.