Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in Urban Housing in Nigeria: Evidence from Ogun State

There is a consensus among housing experts and policy makers that there are not enough resources for government alone to address growing urban housing challenges in many developing countries. Consequently, a paradigm shift from government provision to partnerships between the public and private sectors is advocated. This study examined the prospects and challenges of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in housing provision in Ogun State Southwest Nigeria. Data were derived from the review of official records and interview enquires. Findings show that Public-Private Partnership in housing in the study area is based on the joint venture approach between government agencies and corporate commercial private property developers. So far, attention has been on the provision of housing for high-income earners, while the challenges of insufficient numbers of housing units and housing affordability among low-income earners have not been addressed. The key challenges militating against Public-Private Partnership in housing are inadequate supply of land by government and housing finance, high cost of building materials, graft as well as the exclusion of low-income people from the PPPs. Given the huge housing supply deficit in Ogun State, it is argued that the future success of PPP is contingent upon addressing these challenges and the involvement of organizations that represent low-income people in the institutional framework of the PPPs

PLACE IN PRACTICE An Appraisal of Urban Renewal in Nigeria: A case study of the Nigerian Army Shopping Arena, Oshodi-Lagos

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to appraise the sustainability of the Nigerian Army Shopping Arena urban renewal project in Oshodi-Lagos, Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach – Case study research design was adopted for the study and both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods were used. Data were collected from randomly selected 94 business operators in the shopping complex using structured questionnaires, while oral interviews were conducted with two purposively selected members of the project management team. Data were also collected through non-participant observation and analysed by using both descriptive statistics and content analysis. Findings – The project was executed using the build-operate-transfer (BOT) arrangement, and users were generally satisfied with facilities provided, except for the provision of utilities. Access to public facilities, creation of job opportunities, community involvement and sense of ownership, as well as the provision of facilities for pedestrian and vehicle users were considered as contributing optimally, while adherence to the principle of green design and construction was rated as contributing minimally to the sustainability of the project. Practical implications – The adoption of BOT can facilitate access to funds for urban renewal projects in the developing countries. Creation of job opportunities, ensuring users’ satisfaction, community involvement and compatibility with environment can promote the sustainability of urban renewal projects in the developing countries. Originality/value – The study extents our understanding of funding mechanisms, users’ satisfaction with, and the sustainability of urban renewal projects from the Nigerian perspectiv

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

This study investigated the contextual and organizational challenges in public housing provision in Nigeria in the post independence era. It was motivated by dearth of empirical studies on organizational challenges in public housing in this country. Using 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, unfavorable political environment and declining population of tradesmen in the construction industry were key contextual challenges militating against public housing provision. In addition, low level of inter-agencies collaborations, poor staff motivation and rewarding system as well as inadequate operational equipment and vehicles were responsible for the inability of public housing agencies to deliver on their housing mandate in the study area. The paper suggests that stable polity, consistency in housing policies and programs and capacity building in public housing agencies through public-private partnerships are needed to improve on the quantity and quality of public housing in Nigeri

SATISFACTION WITH PUBLIC HOUSING AMONG URBAN WOMEN IN OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

This study investigated satisfaction with public housing amongst women in urban areas of Ogun State Southwest Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey of residents in nine housing estates constructed by the Government of Ogun State between 2003 and 2010 was conducted using structured questionnaire as data collection instrument. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and factor analysis. It was observed that most women living in public housing sampled in the study area were low and middleincome earners and not satisfied with their present housing conditions. Although they were most satisfied with housing unit features, the main source of dissatisfaction was poor access to basic services and social infrastructure in the housing estates. The management aspects of the housing schemes, size and security of the dwelling units were the main factors that determined respondents’ satisfaction with their housing environment. These findings suggest that the design and construction of housing units to specified standards does not ensure housing satisfaction, rather the management aspect of public housing which includes the location of the estates and provision of basic services and infrastructure are also important in enhancing housing satisfaction among low and middle-income urban women. Therefore, there is a need for improved knowledge of the specific housing needs of women among policy makers and housing developers as well as the involvement of women at all stages of public housing provision in Nigeria

Housing Transformation in Government Constructed Residential Estates in Lagos Nigeria

The desire to remodel houses in line with changing needs of occupants is on the increase, but there is a lack of understanding of the processes involved in housing transformation by residents in public housing estates in a developing country like Nigeria. This study investigated housing transformation in two low-cost public residential estates in Lagos, Nigeria, with a view to understanding the socio-economic characteristics of those engaged in housing transformation and how their undertake this. The data were derived through a cross sectional survey of 614 household heads in the estates using questionnaire and interview guide, and analysed using descriptive statistics and correlation analysis The result shows that most of those involved in housing transformation were male low-income household heads with large families living in owner-occupied houses for over 15 years. It was also found that a significant correlation exist between housing transformation and the socio-economic characteristics of the residents except age. Although housing transformation involved substantial amount of money, yet it was undertaken using direct labour and self-help approach without building plans and authorisations. The paper concludes by highlighting the need for appropriate actions to check the current spate of transformation activities by residents in public housing estates in the study area. Keywords: Housing transformation, low-cost housing; government residential estate, survey, Lagos ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Work Stress among Professionals in the Building Construction Industry in Nigeria

This study was undertaken to identify key stress factors among professionals in the building construction industry in Nigeria. This is in view of the fact that to date, very little is known about work stress among professionals in the building construction industry in this country. The study involved the administration of a questionnaire to 107 professionals including architects, builders, civil/structural engineers and quantity surveyors randomly selected from 60 ongoing building projects in Anambra, Ogun and Kaduna States, Nigeria. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, and findings show that the principal sources of stress were high volume of work, uncomfortable site offices, lack of feedback on previous and ongoing building projects, and variations in the scope of work in ongoing building projects. The paper suggests that taking responsibility for work which one has adequate capacity to handle, establishing realistic budgets and time frames for project delivery, provision of spatially adequate, visually and thermally comfortable site offices, adoption of appropriate job design practices and education of professionals in stress management will reduce the incidence of stress among professionals in the building industry in Nigeria

Evaluation of the Impact of Public Housing Programmes on Sustainable Development in Nigeria:A Theoretical and Conceptual Approach

The aim of this paper is to develop a theoretical and conceptual framework for the evaluation of impacts of public housing programmes on sustainable development in Nigeria. It seeks to address the challenge of adoption of inappropriate tools in evaluation research on public housing provisioning .The paper argues that for adequate knowledge of the impact of public housing on sustainable development, a broad-based framework that transcends boundaries of many disciples should be engaged in the evaluation process. Therefore the proposed framework draws on a holistic and realistic approach to evaluation based on objective-oriented theory; theory-driven evaluation paradigm and a number of conceptual issues that allow for the assessment of relationships between input, output, outcomes and impacts, as well as sustainability of benefits of public housing programmes. The distinct features of this framework include: an open-ended evaluation approach; the use of survey tools in capacity and auditing of housing providers, household survey and environmental impact audit in assessing the impact and sustainability of public housing programme

Satisfaction with Public Housing among Urban Women in Ogun State,Nigeria

This study investigated satisfaction with public housing amongst women in urban areas of Ogun State Southwest Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey of residents in nine housing estates constructed by the Government of Ogun State between 2003 and 2010 was conducted using structured questionnaire as data collection instrument. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and factor analysis. It was observed that most women living in public housing sampled in the study area were low and middle-income earners and not satisfied with their present housing conditions. Although they were most satisfied with housing unit features, the main source of dissatisfaction was poor access to basic services and social infrastructure in the housing estates. The management aspects of the housing schemes, size and security of the dwelling units were the main factors that determined respondents’ satisfaction with their housing environment. These findings suggest that the design and construction of housing units to specified standards does not ensure housing satisfaction, rather the management aspect of public housing which includes the location of the estates and provision of basic services and infrastructure are also important in enhancing housing satisfaction among low and middle-income urban women. Therefore, there is a need for improved knowledge of the specific housing needs of women among policy makers and housing developers as well as the involvement of women at all stages of public housing provision in Nigeri

Framework for Evaluating the Sustainability of Public Housing Programmes in Developing Countries

This paper presents a framework for the evaluation of sustainability of public housing programmes in developing countries. It is motivated by the gap between theory and application of the concept of sustainability to solving practical problems in the production and consumption of housing in developing countries. It argues that dearth of multi-dimensional evaluation framework for assessing the long term environmental, technological, economic, social and cultural consequences of public housing programmes is partly responsible for this development. The paper proposed an integrated analytical and evaluation framework based on the construct of sustainable development and housing as a social programme. The framework basically hypothesized a direct link between the outcomes and sustainability of public housing programmes; and suggests the adoption of housing and neighbourhood environment quality, housing affordability; quality of life, evidence of preservation of cultural heritage as well as technical feasibility as parameters for assessing key dimensions of sustainability of public housing schemes. Although, the effectiveness of the framework lies more on the use of subjective than objective parameters; it addresses the limitations of environmentally biased evaluation frameworks for sustainable housing. The paper suggests the adoption of this framework as an analytical, research and assessment tool in sustainable housing research

Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) in Housing Provisions in Ogun State,Nigeria: Opportunities and Challenges

There is a consensus among housing experts and policy makers that there are not enough resources for government alone to address growing urban housing challenges in many developing countries. Consequently, a paradigm shift from government provision to partnerships between the public and private sectors is advocated. The study examined the prospects and challenges of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in housing provision in Ogun State Southwest Nigeria. Data were derived from the review of official records and interview enquires. Findings show that Public-Private Partnership in housing in the study area is based on the joint venture approach between government agencies and corporate commercial private property developers. So far, attention has been on the provision of housing for high-income earners, while the challenges of insufficient numbers of housing units and housing affordability among low-income earners have not been addressed. The key challenges militating against Public-Private Partnership in housing are inadequate supply of land by government and housing finance as well as the exclusion of low-income people from the PPPs. Given the huge housing supply deficit in Ogun State, it is argued that the future success of PPP is contingent upon addressing these challenges and the involvement of organizations that represent low-income people in the institutional framework of the PPPs