Factors Affecting the Shortage and or Provision of Sustainable Affordable Housing in Developing Countries - A Case-Study of Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

The problem of shelter in developing countries is the shortage of affordable housing especially for the urban poor. This housing shortage exposes the citizens to live in inadequate housing conditions. This study presents evidence of the factors affecting the shortage and or provision of sustainable affordable housing in Cross River State, Nigeria. Primary data was collected from semi-structured interviews and unobtrusive observations. This data was then analysed using descriptive statistics (frequency counts and simple percentages). The study findings revealed that, many interviewees suggested that rural-urban migration 98% (n=48), and lack of planning, maintenance and management 90% (n=45) as the main factors leading to the shortage of affordable housing. The interviewees suggested that poor implementation of government housing policies 84% (n=42), difficulty in purchasing land 94% (n=47), the high cost of building materials 96% (n=48), and lack of finance and access to credit facilities 80% (n=40) were significant challenges hindering the provision of sustainable affordable housing. The study concludes that affordable housing shortage and or provision can be minimised and enhanced by encouraging building developments that are; flexible and smart with minimal usage of non-renewable energy, use of durable and locally available building materials that respond appropriately to environmental factors and forces, availability of housing for the target population and a switch to a more sustainable way of planning, design, construction and maintenance of buildings.

A Systematic Review on Social Housing in Nigeria: Challenges, Prospects and the Road Ahead

“…In the 1970s and 1980s, the Nigerian government adopted a more comprehensive approach to social housing provision, inspired by the enabling approach theory and UN-Habitat conferences in Vancouver (1976) and Istanbul (1996). National housing programs, like the Low-Cost Housing Programme (LCHP), Sites and Services Scheme (SSS), and National Housing Fund (NHF), aimed to provide affordable housing units, serviced plots, and mortgage loans for low-income households (Ackley et al, 2018;Ahmed & Sipan, 2019;Ebekozien, 2020;Ewurum et al, 2019;Jolaoso et al, 2017;Kasim, 2018;Lawal & Adekunle, 2018). These programs faced challenges like inadequate funding, poor implementation, corruption, politicization, land disputes, and low uptake (Akinwande & Hui, 2022;Ebekozien et al, 2021;Malik et al, 2020;Nwalusi et al, 2022;Olubi & Aseyan, 2021;Saidu & Yeom, 2020).…”

“…According to the World Bank (2019), Nigeria has an estimated population of 216.9 million people, with an annual urbanization rate of 4.23%. The country also grapples with a housing deficit of about 28 million units, expected to grow by 20% annually (Ackley et al, 2018;Ahmed & Sipan, 2019;Ebekozien, 2020;Ewurum et al, 2019;Jolaoso et al, 2017;Kasim, 2018;Lawal & Adekunle, 2018). The urban population mostly resides in slums, facing poor living conditions and limited access to basic services and infrastructure.…”

“…Despite these efforts, comprehensive and systematic evidence on the extent, effectiveness, and impact of these social housing initiatives in Nigeria is lacking. Previous studies primarily focused on specific aspects or cases of social housing, such as the challenges and prospects of social housing delivery (Akinwande & Hui, 2022;Ebekozien et al, 2021;Malik et al, 2020;Nwalusi et al, 2022;Olubi & Aseyan, 2021;Saidu & Yeom, 2020;Odoyi & Riekkinen, 2022), the assessment of social housing policies and programmes (Ackley et al, 2018;Ahmed & Sipan, 2019;Ebekozien, 2020;Ewurum et al, 2019;Jolaoso et al, 2017;Kasim, 2018;Lawal & Adekunle, 2018), the evaluation of social housing design and quality (Omole, 2010;Jiboye, 2010;Ogunleye, 2013;Egbe, 2014;Emankhu & Ubang, 2015), the analysis of social housing affordability and accessibility (Onibokun & Kumuyi, 1996;Olayiwola et al, 2005), and the examination of social housing sustainability and impact (Ibem & Aduwo, 2013;Mohit & Azim, 2012;Atamewan, 2022). However, no comprehensive review synthesizes the existing literature on social housing in Nigeria from a holistic perspective.…”

Enhancing occupants' comfort through BIM-based probabilistic approach

“…work, leisure and accommodation). Creating this man-made environment directly impacts upon occupants [1], who require buildings that meet their needs and satisfy their expectations in terms of accessibility, productivity, health and comfort [2]. The role of occupants' comfort within buildings, in terms of environmental, social, and economic aspects, is essential [3] since people spend approximately 90% of their time indoors [4][5][6].…”

Exploring Post Occupancy Evaluation as a Sustainable Tool for Assessing Building Performance in Developing Countries

“…Building users desire buildings to support their yearnings and meet their expectations in accessibility, productivity, health, comfort and satisfaction (Akpan-Idiok and Ackley et al, 2018). This is crucial since people spend up to 90% of their time inside buildings where they work, study or live in (Ferreira and Cardoso, 2014;Nathanson as cited in El-sharkawy, 2014;Ackley et al, 2017).…”