Structure and conduct of risk returns-characteristics of residential property investment in Kaduna metropolis, Nigeria

Residential property investment is one of the most subscribed investments in the world. However, its risk-return characteristics is least understood especially in the Nigeria context. Though past studies have critically established the performance of mostly isolated  residential and commercial properties in southern regions of Nigeria. Disentangling and identifying empirically risk-return characteristic of residential property in Kaduna metropolis Northwest Nigeria is an unresolved challenge. This paper presents an empirical analysis of the performance of residential properties to gain a better understanding of the property market dynamics in Nigeria, survey research approach was employed to collect quantitative data required for the study. To determine residential property returns and asset risk, descriptive (weighted means, standard deviation and percentages) and inferential statistics were utilised. The outcome demonstrated that residential properties have diverse total returns and riskreturn characteristic. Furthermore, this study  established that total returns from residential properties ranged between 7.93% to 12.68 % and the risk features ranged from 2.37% to6.81% among the classes of properties. The result demonstrates a direct positive relationship between total returns and risk profile. Hence, recommends that Malali market is the most desirable location for risk-averse investors. Keywords: Risk- return analysis, residential investment, total return, portfolio, propert

Urban crime prevention and adaptation measures in Ilorin, Nigeria

The current high rate of crime in Nigeria, which is attributed largely to high population growth, rapid rate of urbanization and a correspondingly high rate of impoverishment among the population owing to the disproportionate growth of the national economy, is fast making urban centers in Nigeria unsafe. With a police force that is short in capacity, urban residents have adopted safety measures to prevent and adapt to the increase in crimes in their residential neighbourhoods. Using a combination of primary and secondary data from a medium-sized city that reflects the attributes of the typical Nigerian urban centers, this study appraised the effectiveness of these prevention and adaptation measures. Among several identified measures, the use of fences and gates around buildings proved to be the most effective measure against the eight commonly identified crimes in the study area. The study concludes that the usage of this measure should form part of the building approval process by the relevant physical planning authorities in Nigeria.Keywords: Crime, Residential Neighbourhoods, Spatial Pattern, Crime Prevention, Nigeri