Impact of poverty on housing condition in Nigeria: A case study of Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State

Abstract

The poor in most developing countries are found among four identifiable economic groups, the rural landless, the small farmers, the urban underemployed and the unemployed. Generally, the poor are dis-proportionately located in rural areas and slums in urban areas. The urban poor in Sub-Saharan Africa especially the West Africa region experience difficult time. This research work examined the impact of poverty on housing condition in Mushin Local Government of Lagos State. The objectives of the study are to examine the socio economic characteristic of the residents in the study area; examine the type and quality of facilities in these houses; examine the existing housing condition (physical structure); examine the environmental quality surrounding these houses; and examine the relationship between poverty and housing in the study area. The methodology adopted includes the use of both primary and secondary data. The survey covered the ten wards in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State. Stratified random sampling technique was used in the administration of questionnaires based on the income of respondents that is, high, middle and low income area. The respondents consist of 187 males and 213 females. The questionnaire addressed issues concerning respondents’ socio-economic characteristic, physical environment and level of infrastructural facilities. Sixty questionnaires were administered in high income area, 100 questionnaires to middle income area, and 240 questionnaires to low income area. A total of 400 questionnaires were administered and the data obtained were analyzed with the use of both descriptive and simple statistical analysis. The findings revealed that poverty result in the poor health of the residents due to exposure to pollution of different forms. It also has adverse impact on the lives of people and housing condition. Among suggestions made were poverty alleviation programmes, provision of an effective loan scheme, partial upgrading, effective urban development policy, and improvement of sanitary conditions and enforcement of housing and building codes. If all these suggestions were adhered to there could be tremendous improvement in the standard of living and housing condition in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State. Key words: Poverty, housing, environment.