AN EVALUATION OF HOUSING AFFORDABILITY FOR NIGER STATE CIVIL SERVANTS UNDER PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP (PPP) HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1    BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Housing is an integral element of a nation‟s economy and its backward and forward linkages with other parts of the economy closely bond people‟s needs, demands and social processes. These linkages allow housing to act as an important engine for sustainable development and poverty reduction in both society and the economy, and without a functioning housing sector, urban centers cannot be established or developed. A functioning housing sector offers appropriate, affordable housing and sustainable patterns of urbanization which are critical for the future of our ever-urbanizing planet (Arias, 1993).

Public housing delivery for civil servants in Niger State started after the creation of the State in 1976 when some government quarters were constructed under the supervision of Niger State Ministry of Works, Transport and Housing. Later, Niger State Housing Corporation was created in 1979 for housing delivery in the state. However, between 1976 and 2007 less than 3,000 houses were developed by the public sector. Niger State Evolving Strategy for Sustainable Housing (NSESSH, 2007).

In order to improve on this, the government of Niger State in 2007 embraced the Public Private Partnership (PPP) as an alternative strategy for her housing delivery. This was a position response to the 2nd United Nation (UN) Conference on Human settlement (HABITAT II) in Istanbul, in June, 1996 which advocated the effective and affordable mass housing delivery through Public-Private Partnership (NSESSH, 2007).

Consequently, many scholars and stakeholders have argued that government has no business in providing housing for people, but rather government should act as a partner, enabler and facilitator of housing process by making available appropriate incentives, policy and good regulatory environment necessary for effective private sector participation in housing provision (World Bank, 1993; UNCHS, 2000). In view of this, there is an emerging consensus that current approaches to public housing be based on market-friendly policies and strategies that encourage reduction in government’s direct involvement in public housing provision.

Ong and Lenard (2002) and UN-HABITAT (2006a) were however of the opinion that this does not necessarily mean reduction in government’s social responsibility in providing housing for the citizens, but rather it implies the production of housing through collaborative approach in an integrated manner.

In the light of foregoing criticisms coupled with the need for sustainable solution to burgeoning housing challenges; most governments in developing countries are engaging in new housing policies, programmes and strategies that seek to meet demands of market-driven economies in addressing housing needs of their people (Sengupta and Ganesan, 2004; Sengupta, 2005; Sengupta and Sharma, 2008). In Nigeria for instance, current approaches to public housing provision are based on private sector-driven strategies (National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy, 2004; Aribigbola, 2008; African Ministerial Conference on Housing and Urban Development, 2008). Similar approaches are known to have been engaged in countries such as India, Malaysia, Peru and many other developing countries (see Arimah, 1999; Ong and Lenard, 2002; Sengupta and Tipple, 2007; Fernandez-Maldonado and Bredenoord, 2010). Surprisingly to date, the outcomes of those strategies, reforms and programmes are yet to be empirically evaluated in many of these countries, including Nigeria.

1.2    STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Despite burgeoning criticism on failure of public housing to provide quality, affordable and adequate housing units to target population in Nigeria; several studies have shown that governments in Nigeria have continuously engaged in different housing delivery strategies to address the problem of providing adequate, affordable and sustainable housing to the citizens (Kabir, 2004; Akinmoladun and Oluwoye, 2007; Ademiluyi and Raji, 2008). For instance, Niger state government in Nigeria recently planned to provide about 12,230 housing units between 2003 and 2011 through its public housing programme.

The Government’s commitment to public housing provision, proclaimed by its political leaders, is reflected in the objectives of the State’s Housing Policy. Specifically, the objectives of public housing provision in this State are to (i) enhance the evolution of appropriate institutional framework for public housing delivery (ii) encourage home ownership with secured tenure among all socio-economic groups (iii) promote private sector participation in public housing (iv) provide self-sufficient public housing estates that meet the daily challenges of all residents and (v) provide all socio-economic groups access to adequate housing at affordable cost . It is expected that public housing in Niger state will result in the provision of adequate housing and improvement of aesthetics of the urban landscape, and ultimately lead to improved quality of life of residents in public housing estates.

Public housing as a social intervention programme is designed according to peoples‟ perceptions of what seems to work based on practitioners‟ assumptions and logical reasoning (Birckmayer and Weiss, 2000). According to Weiss (1997), such a programme is born out of experience and professional lore.

It is usually implemented based on defined strategies to achieve set goals. Preliminary investigations revealed that current efforts in public housing in Niger state of Nigeria has so far relied on four main housing delivery strategies-including the Core housing, Turnkey, Public-Private Partnership (PPP) and Shell stage strategies in providing the planned number of housing units. However, till date, very little is known on the performance of these strategies. Moreover, several studies (Idemudia, 1980; Muritala, 1980; Bana, 1991; Ali, 1996; Ukoha and Beamish, 1997; Ilesanmi, 2005; Olatubara and Fatoye, 2007; Fatoye and Odusami, 2009; Jiboye, 2009; 2010) have evaluated public housing schemes in different parts of Nigeria. Each of these studies attempted at identifying areas of deficiencies in public housing provision from residents‟ satisfaction point of view.

But it has been observed that certain inadequacies which bear upon the focus and usefulness of the findings for factual judgement on the performance of, and validity of underlying theories in public housing exist.

1.3    OBJECTIVES OF STUDY

The main aim of this study is to assess housing development and the affordability in Niger state. The specific objectives include the following:

1.          To assess the organizational capacity of public housing agencies and compare the housing delivery strategies used in public housing in Niger state.

2.          To examine the characteristics of housing provided in public housing in the study area.

3.          To determine the socio-economic characteristics of residents in selected housing estates developed through the different    strategies in public housing in the study area.

4.          To examine residents’ perception of the adequacy of housing provided through the different housing delivery strategies  and factors that influenced it. Housing Development

1.4    RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The following research questions were formulated to guide this study:

1.          What are the organizational capacity of public housing agencies and compare the housing delivery strategies used   in public housing in Niger state?

2.          What are the characteristics of residents in housing provided in public housing in Niger state?

3.          What are the socio-economic characteristics of residents in selected housing estates developed through the various housing delivery strategies in public housing in Niger state?

4.          What is the residents’ perception of the adequacy of housing provided through the different housing delivery strategies and factors that influenced it?

1.5    SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

In this study, the researcher set out to assess housing development and the affordability in Niger state with the aid of highlighting the inherent problem facing low income earners in assessing affordable residential housing. It is expected that this work will be of interest to government, students and the general public.

This study will also help to serve as literature (reference source) to governments at all level, students, individuals or corporate bodies into what to carry out on further research on housing development and the affordability in Niger state.

1.6    SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study concerns on assessment of housing development and affordability in Niger state with a particular reference to Opic and Niger state Housing.

1.7    LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

Distance and its attendance cost of travel in order to obtain the needed information which to write this study will be a major limitation. Another limitation to the study is short time factor which did not give time for thorough research work, hence gathering adequate information becomes very difficult. Finally, lack of materials on the topic; this is new in the area of housing development and affordability in Niger state. Therefore, the researcher resolved to seek friendly approach in order to obtain the needed materials or information from the area under study through the administration of questionnaire.

1.8    DEFINITION OF TERMS

a) Housing: Housing is defined as buildings or structures that individuals and their family may live in that meet certain        federal government regulations. Housing Development

b) Affordable Housing: Affordable housing is housing deemed affordable to those with a median household income as rated by country, State (province), region or municipality by a recognized Housing Affordability Index.

c) Income: Income is the consumption and savings opportunity gained by an entity within a specified timeframe, which is generally expressed in monetary terms (Barr, 2004). However, for households and individuals, income is the sum of all the wages, salaries, profits, interests,. payments, rents, and other forms of earnings received in a given period of time.

d) Accommodation: It is lodging in a dwelling or similar living quarters afforded to travelers in hotels or on cruise ships, or

e) Management: Management in organizations is the function that coordinates the efforts of people to accomplish goals    and objectives by using available resources efficiently and    Housing Development

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