Government Challenges in Housing the Urban Poor in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria

Abstract

It is a common knowledge that poverty is rapidly becoming an urban phenomenon. The vast majority of urban dwellers are the low-income earners who are in disadvantage economic position to make effective demand of adequate housing. This paper examines the activities of Ekiti state government in housing the poor in Ado-Ekiti (regional centre) within the framework of the policies on housing reform in Nigeria. The study adopts simple descriptive statistics such as frequency counts and percentages in data analysis of direct government housing provision in the emerging city. The results of these efforts show insignificant re-housing gains on the urban poor. The complexity associated with the government housing approach has made it difficult to realize health and economic benefits including added investments in housing improvement in the area. Policy recommendations are set forth based on research findings with a view to attaining sustainable housing development at the regional centre.