Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in Housing Provision in Lagos Megacity Region, Nigeria

Abstract

The adoption of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in housing provision in Nigeria is intended to increase urban housing stock and address housing affordability and accessibility challenges. However, to date, very little is known about how PPP housing schemes have addressed these challenges. This paper therefore explores the extent to which PPP in housing provision has so far contributed to solving the housing challenges in the Lagos Megacity Region of Nigeria. The paper presents the result of a cross-sectional survey of operators of PPP schemes and housing consumers in the study area. The results show that the PPP approach is basically a formal joint venture partnership involving government providing land at subsidised cost and the provision of serviced plots or construction of housing units by private sector partners. Although the approach has provided affordable serviced plots and housing units for a few high income elites, it has contributed very little to the volume of housing units available to low-income people in Lagos. The paper suggests the adoption of a uniform policy on PPP in housing provision and the establishment of a co-ordinating agency. In addition, government involvement in the provision of infrastructure in PPP housing schemes could increase the affordable housing stock accessible to low-income people in the city.