Accessibility of Services and Facilities for Residents in Public Housing in Urban Areas of Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

Against the backdrop of the need to improve accessibility of services and infrastructural facilities for urban residents in Nigeria, this study examined the accessibility of services and facilities for urban residents in newly constructed public housing in Ogun State, Southwest Nigeria. The study was based on household surveys and data were collected from 452 respondents in nine public housing estates constructed between 2003 and 2010 in urban centers in the study area using structured questionnaire and observation schedule. It was observed that although the majority of households in the housing estates have good access to human waste disposal system, accessibility to refuse bins, treated water, electricity, and public transport services as well as educational, shopping, recreational, healthcare, drainage, and other vital facilities is poor. One instructive finding of this study is that more emphasis is given to the production of dwelling units than accessibility to basic services and facilities for residents in public housing schemes in the study area. The paper suggests that to improve the quality of public housing and living standard of residents, policy action is required to compel public housing developers to provide basic services and facilities in housing schemes in Nigerian cities.