AN ASSESSMENT OF HOUSING NEEDS IN MASAKA, KARU LGA, NASARAWA STATE

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AN ASSESSMENT OF HOUSING NEEDS IN MASAKA, KARU LGA, NASARAWA STATE

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background of the Study

Housing represents one of the basic human needs and has a plethora and profound impact on health, social interaction and general welfare of the individual and groups in any environment. Availability of decent and affordable housing has been inadequate in virtually all places and almost throughout history. This is more pronounced in developing countries where rapid population growth and urbanization is unmatched by corresponding and commensurate change in social, economic and technological development. (Mabogunje et al., 1978). Thus, this phenomenal rise in population, spontaneous increase in the number and size of most Nigerian cities’ have in the past few decades led to acute shortage of decent and affordable dwelling units. The outcomes of this developmental process are diverse urban problems ranging from overcrowding, deplorable environment, poor living conditions, inadequate and poor infrastructural services, homelessness and informal settlement (Jiboye, 2019).

Informal settlement is the major issue in which great nations such as Nigeria face even as the transit into developed nations. The rate at which the number of people living in urban spaces continues to increase is tremendous and to be able to achieve a successful transition, urban growth would have to be accepted and managed using sustainability framework (Ya et al., 2009). Current research has suggested that proper implementation of sustainable urban development could lead to economic enhancement, reduced poverty, and improved quality of life/quality of space and other positive outcomes (UNDPI, 2018). But in order to adopt sustainable planning strategies and framework government would have to consider the possibilities of problems and challenges through analysing the impact of different planning policies which would then be used in recommending strategies with regards to improving the socio-economic, cost benefits of urban housing development (Kyrkou et al., 2011). Among such policy is housing demolition which is strategies used to correct informal settlements and development in cities.

Housing demolition is an important byproduct of Urban Redevelopment Programmes because urban redevelopment typically involves the redevelopment of built-up areas and the reuse of urban space (Talen, 2014; He, 2014).  Since 2003, housing demolition has been adopted  as a tool for regeneration or ‘restructuring housing markets’ to suit modern conditions. Many argue that this is harmful to the environment, costly and damaging to the long-term community networks that grow slowly within housing areas. The demolition of houses, which are bulky and valuable material objects, should therefore be considered only as a last resort. It is usually only advocated to remove unsound or unwanted buildings. Additionally, demolition is invariably contentious and slow in delivering new replacement homes (Power, 1987; Power and Houghton, 2007). However, the idea of demolishing the poorest and oldest homes to improve environmental efficiency and reduce fuel poverty has found some appeal.

In many countries the private sector plays an important role in housing development. It constructs housing either ‘for sale or rent for different income groups. The private sector should participate in the construction of housing for all categories of the population either for sale or rent, manufacturing and supply of building materials in the housing construction sector, infrastructure development for human settlements and encourage members of communities to improve their living environment through community participation in projects.

In Nigeria a number of efforts have been mustered to solve the housing problem; from the most discernable and debut of the Lagos Executive Development Board (LEDB) in 1928 till now, a satisfactory respite have not been achieved. The achievement from the changing finance mechanisms, material and construction technology development, delivery mechanism etc over the years is minimal and therefore calls for deeper and wider thought towards means that is all-embracing, meets other societal needs yet accelerating the enormous task of housing the nation’s teeming population Bayode (2008).

The housing sector plays a more crucial role in the country’s welfare as it directly affects not only the well-being of the citizenry, but also the performance of other sectors of the economy. In recognition of this, the Nigerian government has over the years initiated policies and programmes to address the housing challenges, but with little/no success. Experts have put the housing shortage in Nigeria as at 2005 at between 12 million to 14 million (Adejumo, 2008: Oluwaluyi, 2008). According to Babade (2007), to adequately house the urban population in Nigeria, a conservative figure of 409,227 ‘housing units should have been constructed in 1990. Due to neglect, the figure rose to 783, 042 units in 1995; 1,333,176 units in the year 2000; 1,543,318 units in 2003 and 2, 171, 603 units in 2010. This is serious considering the poor showing of the housing sector.

Sustainable housing provision is the gradual, continual and replicable process of meeting the housing needs of the populace, the vast majority of who are poor and are incapable of providing adequately for themselves, It ensures housing strategies that are stable and are not subject to vagaries in the political circumstances of the country.

The private sector faces a number of difficulties in housing provision, which hampers it in large-scale construction. Housing provision is enormously costly and the private sector, which is essentially profit-driven, cannot be expected to produce a socially optimum output with adequacy in quantity and standards, neither can it allocate housing resources equitably. This due to distinct peculiarities of housing such as its heterogeneous nature, high production costs relative to income, high transaction costs and low elasticity of supply. This study in the light of the various discourses made about housing matter, has attempted to critically assessed housing needs in Masaka KAru Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

1.1     Statement of Problem

Housing problem cannot be properly understood unless the underlying issues are critically examine in a town like Masaka whose status have suddenly changed as a result of housing demolition aside its proximity to the Federal capital territory Abuja and the compounding effects of mass demolition of housing units in FCT since 2003 till date which result to the rapid growth in terms of population and expansion in commercial activities (Talen, 2014).  The result is often the shortage in the supply of housing and congestion in some residential districts in the town.

Unless appropriately contained such initial housing problem tend to intensify with continued growth of the town. Effective response to the situation in both the short and long run appears to depend on timely and satisfactory analysis of the housing demand and supply. This crucial input for viable housing development policy and supply strategy has been lacking in government effort in the state. This is also being disregarded by planners who have only been concerned with the preparation of land use plans based on estimate of land budgets determined merely by the use of planning standards and not related to the specific computations of the housing demand. Therefore not only do such actions cause delays allowing for the intensification of the housing problem but are also lacking in the realistic formulation that ensure attainment of satisfactory housing objectives.

Housing demolition is an important tool in the implementation of Urban Redevelopment and renewal Programmes because urban redevelopment typically involves the redevelopment of built-up areas and the reuse of urban space (Talen, 2014). To meet the land demand from Urban  Redevelopment Progarmmes, a lot of housing / buildings were demolished annually. As a result, more than 20% of urban residents have already experienced housing demolition and relocation because of the actions of the FCT administration to comply with the Abuja Master Plan (Jibril, 2015). Various stakeholders have been affected by this housing demolition and the inter-relationships of these stakeholders are very complex. Due to sharp conflicts of interests among different stakeholders, housing demolition has resulted in many social risks that increasingly challenge the success of sustainable housing development.

Also the housing policies were not efficient because they kept on changing the policies to suit the Government and the Abuja master plan. Today the suburb of Abuja such as Masaka is highly overwhelmed with increasing population as a result of demolition of housing units in Abuja thereby posing a great pressure on the available housing unit and other infrastructures in this areas, this has necessitated the need for this study to assess housing needs in Masaka, Karu Local government Area of Nasarawa State.

1.2     Aim

The general aim of this study is to assess housing needs in Masaka, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

Objectives

          The specific objectives of this dissertation include:

1. To examine the housing needs in Masaka
2. To determine the basic characteristics of the housing condition inhabitant in Masaka
3. To identify the effects of Abuja housing demolition in Masaka.
4. To ascertain the state of housing need in Masaka before and after housing demolition in Abuja.
5. To recommend sustainable strategies for improving demand in and around Masaka, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

1.4     Research Questions

1. What is the state of housing needs in Masaka
2. What are the basic characteristics of the housing condition in Masaka
3. What are the effects of Abuja housing demolition on housing needs in Masaka.
4. What is the state of housing need in Masaka before and after housing demolition in Abuja.
5. To recommend sustainable strategies for improving demand in and around Masaka, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

1.5     Scope

The study focus on the assessment of housing needs in Masaka Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. Efforts was made in the study to identify the effects of Abuja housing demolition  in Masaka, identify the state of housing need in Masaka before and after housing demolition in Abuja and to examine the effects of demolition on housing need in Masaka. The study is limited to Masaka in Karu Local government area and does not extend to the surrounding fringes and suburbs.

1.6     Justification

The condition of human existence is directly related to the environment. This environment comprises mainly the dwelling housing. However, improving housing need and supply therefore, become a priority for every nation where there is poor condition of houses demand and supply. This study becomes justifiable as

1. It findings will help understand housing need in Masaka, Karu Local government of Nasarawa state
2. It will guide policy makers and investors to make good decisions that will affected the general populace positively.

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