1.1 Introduction
Housing policy is a written document which usually comprises specific objectives, strategies and programs aimed at solving the housing problems or meeting with the ever-increasing housing needs and demands of a country. Housing is second most essential basic needs of humankind outside food. Its impact on the health and welfare and output of man is profound. Therefore housing plays a vital role in a person’s standard of living and place in the society (Jiboye, 2009).
One of the policy goals of sustainable development is the delivery of adequate housing for Countries in the global south. Nigeria has an estimated population of about 200 million people and this implies that urgent attention should be placed on the country housing sector if the housing needs of the inhabitant are to be met. One key issue affecting housing delivery in Nigeria is that the level of housing shortage has not been adequately presented. This is as a result of inadequate and inappropriate statistics and data by the managers of housing in Nigeria (Alagbe et al., 2013).
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Housing is a word that is common to many societies but most widely misunderstood especially its technical definition or meaning. Housing is therefore viewed not only as a shelter together with its supporting infrastructures but more comprehensively as an evolutionary and participating process. Housing-is a complex system of interactions between institutions and residents which give shape to human settlements.-Housing comprises more than four walls and a roof, it also includes supporting infrastructure such as water supply, electric power, roads, shopping facilities, recreational facilities, a good and enabling environment. Furthermore, institutions such as the housing corporations, mortgage financial institutions, developers, estate agents, buyers and sellers all make up the housing industry. Housing affects all individual in any society including the homeless and the destitute. Housing can also be described as accommodation with all the necessary ancillary services with it. Housing is one of the 3 most significant in the sustainability of human existence with considerable economic, social, cultural and personal importance. The production of-housing-has been influenced largely by policies, innovation and the ability to sustain the environment (Ezengu 2000).
Housing encompasses all social services and utilities that make life meaningful and the environment habitable. The problems that affect readily housing delivery in Nigeria are enormous and very complex. These problems in most of our urban cities in Nigeria encompasses the availability of housing units both in quality and the number available which in turn has resulted into congested homes and community and the resultant of this is the ever increasing pressure on the infrastructural facilities which will rapidly deteriorate. The situation in the rural area is even worse where the quality of housing is very poor and very low in quantity. Infrastructure like power, roads, water, drainage and every other constituent of housing is readily unavailable.
In Nigeria today, over 7 out of every 10 people live below the minimum poverty level and 9 of every 10 are in the low income group therefore these people cannot provide housing for themselves; they then are rendered homeless or live in poor housing. The government had in place various policies as regarding housing delivery to the public but poor implementation has made it impossible to meet up with the 12-14 million housing units needed (Balogun, 2007).
Housing policy is written document which usually comprises specific objectives, strategies and programs aimed at solving the housing problems or meeting with the ever-increasing housing needs and demands of a country. Housing policy should contain the government’s views, policy objectives, strategies and programs all aimed at solving the housing problems of a particular country. Again, it can be said that husing policies are like theories while programs are like practical; both of which are aimed at solving various husing problems bedeviling a particular country or society. Problem of inadequate housing faced by poor people around the world has been a matter of concern to governments in various countries especially in the developing world whereby significant portion of the population is mostly characterized by poverty. In such countries, the housing problem is not only that of quantity but also of the poor quality of available housing units.
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Effect of Government Policy on Housing Problem.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that majority of the people is living in poor housing or totally homeless even in urban centre, not-to talk of the rural areas. Housing in Nigeria are generally poor and very low in quality and-quantity despite all governmental policies to provide housing to the public.
The problem of housing encompasses the availability of housing units which has resulted into congested homes and community and resulted in the ever increasing pressure on the infrastructural facilities. The main issue in this study relates to the effect of government policy on housing problem-in Nigeria.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to investigate the Effect of Government Policy on Housing Problem in Nigeria using Lagos State Ministry as a case study. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To examine the effect of government policy on sustainable housing delivery in Nigeria;
- To examine the important of quality housing delivery-to living standard of people;
- To identify problems hindering housing delivery in Nigeria; and
- To examine the effect of increase in population on sustainable housing delivery in Nigeria.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- What are the effect government policies on sustainable housing delivery in Nigeria?
- What are the problems hindering housing delivery in Nigeria?
- To what extent does increase in population affect sustainable housing delivery in Nigeria?
- What are the important of quality housing delivery to living standard of people?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: Government policies have no effect on sustainable housing delivery in Nigeria.
- H1: Government policies have effect on sustainable housing delivery in Nigeria.
Hypothesis Two
- H0: Increase in population does not affect sustainable housing delivery in Nigeria.
- H1: Increase in population affect sustainable housing delivery in Nigeria.
1.7 Significance of Study
The findings of this research will be beneficial to the government, educational institution; Housing Development Company and the general public are likely to benefit from this research work. This study will also be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.
1.8 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the the Effect of Government Policy on Housing Problem in Nigeria using Lagos State Ministry as a case study.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Establishment Policies: Establishment policies posed a serious limitation as most staffs are not ready to release information needed for this project work. There were lots of information needed from the staffs of this establishment to enhance the study which took them time to release or they did not release at all for security purposes, hence the scope was reduced.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
1.10 Definition of Terms
House: This is a building made for people to live in usually for one family or a family and lodgers. More technically, a house-is a building or structural edifice comprising of walls with foundation, floors, roofs e.t.c.
Housing: This is-a-complex system of interactions between institutions and residents which give shape to human settlements.
Housing Policy: This-is a written document which usually comprises specific objectives, strategies and programs aimed at solving the housing problems or meeting with the ever-increasing housing needs and demands of a country.
