NATIONAL HOUSING POLICY AND THE CHALLENGES OF URBANISATION IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The provision of adequate housing that is safe, secure, accessible, affordable, and wholesome is a fundamental human right, as encoded in the United Nations Habitat Agenda- the global call on human settlements. Nigeria has formulated and implemented several housing policies and programmes in an attempt to ameliorate the housing situation of the citizens, with limited success. Thus, they continue to experience rapid urban population growth that is not being matched by adequate planning and management in terms of housing needs. This paper, therefore, examines the relationship between housing policies and urbanisation in Nigeria over the years. The study is anchored on the theoretical assumption of the Rational Comprehensive Model, which contends that planning techniques and methods promote urban development based on top-down approaches. The paper utilised a mixed-method of data collection, which was analysed using content analysis. The study found that the inability of successive governments in Nigeria to curb urbanisation challenges is a function of the disconnect between housing policy making and consistency in policy implementation, which leads to the inability to deliver on the types of houses the citizens need. The study recommends consistent, measurable, and sustainable housing programmes that are public-sector-led but private sector-financed through a robust public-private partnership.