“Housing Development Characteristics In Lagos State Peri-Urban Settlements”

ABSTRACT

The emerging housing developments in Lagos State peri-urban settlements is characterised by high level of informal development, poor quality and confronted with multi-dimensional challenges. Policy response to the pattern of growth does not match the pace of rapid housing development in Lagos peri-urban settlements. This research examined the characteristics of housing development in the peri-urban settlements of Lagos State, Nigeria and specifically investigated the drivers of housing development, socio-economic attributes of the residents, the quality of housing and the challenges of the management of the emerging peri-urban housing developments. Using a case study approach, housing developments in peri-urban settlements in Ibeju-Lekki and Ikorodu Local Government Areas were selected to represent the rapidly urbanizing metropolitan peripheral areas in Lagos State. Data were collected through primary and secondary sources which include satellite images, aerial photographs, survey questionnaires, direct observations and in-depth interviews. Using two stage sampling techniques, questionnaire was distributed to households in purposively selected 16 peri-urban settlements and 18 peri-urban settlements in Ibeju-Lekki and Ikorodu Local Government Areas respectively. Purposive sampling was adopted to minimise cost because of the dispersed locations of the peri-urban settlements. In-depth interviews were conducted with government planning officials, developers and business owners. Data collected through field survey were analysed using frequencies, percentages, cross tabulations and regression analysis while qualitative data were analysed using descriptive analysis. Findings revealed that major drivers of housing development in the study area are principally land affordability, low cost of living, easy linkage and proximity to urban centres, and provision of better quality housing through exclusive gated housing development. The findings also demonstrate that different housing initiatives in the peri-urban settlements performed differently in typology and resident’s perception. Socio-economic attributes revealed a multi-cultural households composition, reasonable literacy level and mostly male headed households. Findings also showed factors that influence dwelling quality in the study area are choice of building materials, neighbourhood and locational quality. Challenges to governance are location-specific and mostly poor infrastructural development. It is recommended that improved quality and user performance peri-urban housing development can be achieved through residents’ participation in housing policy design and also by timely regional policy response to the pace of housing development in Lagos peri-urban settlements.