Challenges in public housing provision in the post independence era in Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the contextual and organizational challenges in public housing provisions in Nigeria in the post independent era. The study was motivated by dearth of empirical studies on organizational challenges responsible for the inability of public housing provision to keep pace with urban housing demand in this country. Based on data derived from a survey of fifteen public housing agencies in southern Nigeria, the study found that scarcity of housing finance, lack of consistency and continuity in housing policy formulation and poor implementation strategies, unfavourable political environment and declining population of tradesmen in the construction industry were the contextual challenges in public housing provisions. In addition, lack of inter-agencies collaborations, poor staff remuneration and reward system as well as inadequate operational equipments and vehicles were found to be responsible for the inability of public housing agencies to deliver on their housing mandate. The paper suggests that stable polity, consistency in housing policies and programmes and capacity building in public housing agencies through public-private partnerships are needed to improve the quantity and quality of public housing in Nigeria.