The liveability of public low-income housing of Niger State of Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigates the state of liveability of the public low-income housing estates through the perception of the residents’ experience and evaluation of their housing estates in Minna, Niger State. Based on the literature review, a conceptual framework was developed and a questionnaire survey was designed to achieve the study aim and objectives. The residents’ perception of liveability was assessed through five dimensions- housing unit characteristics, economic vitality, safety situation, neighbourhood facilities and social interaction. The data were collected through a structured questionnaire distributed to household heads in the three selected housing estates. The stratified random sampling technique was used to choose all types of homes, thus, a total of 400 households were sampled out of 1,000 housing units found in the three housing estates. However, a total of 366 questionnaires was retrieved representing a response rate of 91.5 percent. The data elicited from the questionnaire survey were analyzed with descriptive statistics, factor analysis and structural equation modelling (SEM). The descriptive statistics revealed the perception of the residents’ of the liveability of their housing estates. The second analysis conducted focusing on the hypothesized model fitting of the liveability dimensions and attributes as extracted from the extant literature. The result of the CFA validates the theoretical model in this study. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine and identify the significant predictors of the liveability of public low-income housing as perceived by the respondents. The study findings revealed that residents of the selected three housing estates were satisfied with housing unit characteristics and economic vitality, but dissatisfied with neighbourhood facilities and safety situation. Further, results showed that there is a lack of social interaction among the residents of the selected housing estates. However, the regression analysis result shows that the major predictor of liveability satisfaction of public low-income housing is neighbourhood facilities. Also, housing affordability index analysis based on the Niger State mean salary scale revealed a grave housing affordability problem. In view of the above findings, the study recommends the rehabilitation of the neighbourhood facilities and to put in place by the government, the neighbourhood facilities management strategy in collaboration with the residents of the housing estate. However, without prejudice to the government capability to provide management strategy required, corporate sector can collaborate to provide services required in these housing estates. Furthermore, the study advocates for better financing mortgage plans.